Randy K. Barr of Rolla, Missouri, passed away on Monday, June 15, 2026, at the age of 71.
Born March 13, 1955, in St. Louis to Marvin and Verona Barr, he spent his life devoted to family and to the community he served for decades.
A career built on service
Barr’s path in law enforcement began early and spanned more than two decades. He served as chief of the Newburg City Police Department before moving on to the Phelps County Sheriff’s Department, where he worked for over 20 years in several roles, including corrections officer, dispatcher, bailiff, deputy sheriff, and process server.
Colleagues remembered him as a steady, dependable presence who built genuine connections between the department and the people it served.
After retiring from law enforcement, Barr stayed active in the workforce, taking a job at Dickey Bub Farm and Home in Rolla. Earlier in life, before settling into police work, he drove trucks for a living, though he eventually stepped away from that career so he could spend more time at home with his family.
His commitment to Rolla did not end with retirement. Barr remained involved as a member of the local 911 board and the Rolla Lions Club, and in earlier years, he had served with the Rolla Rural Fire Department.
The Phelps County Sheriff’s Department honored him publicly after his death, noting his lasting impact on the community and signing off with the radio code 10 42, a final farewell often used for officers who have passed.
A devoted family man
Away from the badge, those who knew Barr described him as someone who lit up around his grandchildren. He loved golf, yard work, cooking, and tinkering with small engines, but nothing compared to showing up for whatever his grandkids were doing.
He married Deborah Harris on July 2, 1977, and the two built a life together in Rolla. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Jim Barr, his mother-in-law Shirley Harris, and his brother-in-law Brian Harris.
Surviving him are his wife Deborah, his son Kevin Barr and wife Danielle, his father-in-law David Harris, brothers James Drennen and Butch Drennen and their wives, sisters Barb Medlock, Carrie Belcher, and Cathy Blake, grandchildren Zoey and Ethan Barr, along with many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and his pets, Wee Wee and Charlie.
A visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday, June 22, at Null and Son Funeral Home in Rolla. A funeral service will follow at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, June 23, also at the funeral home, with burial afterward at Pilot Knob Cemetery.
In place of flowers, the family has asked that donations go toward helping cover funeral costs. A fundraiser has been set up online for anyone wishing to support Deborah Barr during this time.
