Ed graduated from Lebanon High School in 1951. After graduation and faced with a couple of job opportunities, he chose to follow in his parent’s footsteps in the grocery business and went to work for Kroger where he proudly worked for 42 years. Ed started his career as a clerk in Lebanon and by 1955 he had been appointed to a management position and moved to Elizabethtown as a co-manager. In 1969, he was appointed manager and had the opportunity to open several new local Kroger locations; the last in its present location at Towne Drive, where he worked until his retirement in 1993.

His soft-spoken leadership served him well and he would lead by example. He took great pride in having a clean and well-stocked store for his customers and would jump in and bag groceries if needed.

More than serving as manager for Kroger, he served his community as well, often being recognized for his outstanding service. He served on the board of directors of the former Elizabethtown Jaycees, where he was honored as Outstanding Young Man in 1964, he was council president for Hardin County 4-H and served two terms, he was a member of the Chamber of Commerce for Elizabethtown–Hardin County, he was a Kentucky Colonel, he served on the board for Men for Christ, he was a member of the Elizabethtown Rotary Club for more than 40 years and received the Paul Harris Fellow Award of Excellency by Rotary International and he served on the board of directors for the Christian Church Homes of Kentucky.

He was a faithful member of First Christian Church for more than 60 years having served as a deacon, elder, chairman of the board and a trustee.

He was an avid golfer and, much to his children’s dismay, he loved the UK Wildcats.

He is preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Ben and Victor “Vic” Barlow; and four sisters, Prentie Lamb, Evelaine Roller, Alaine Dobson and Carolyn Jacobs.

He is survived by his loving wife of 72 years, Duerella; a son, Steven Barlow; two daughters, Bobbie (Louis) Bauer and Sherry (David) Cofer; a sister-in-law, Sandy Barlow; eight grandchildren, Christina Wirth, Celeste Reynolds, Aaron and Stuart Bauer, Scott Barlow, Kaitlin and Jordan Cofer and Addison Futrell; and 12 great-grandchildren.

The funeral will be at noon Tuesday, May 20, at First Christian Church with Ministers Chris Kiger and Doug Mitchell officiating.

Visitation is from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at Brown Funeral Home in Elizabethtown and will resume at 10 a.m. Tuesday at First Christian Church until the time of the service.

WORD OF APPRECIATION
Thank you to Egypt Christian for hosting our March meeting and Mr. Bill Miller for speaking for us. There were 96 men present from 25 congregations.

HOSTS NEEDED
If your church would like to host a meeting in 2025, please contact Secretary, Mike Vaught at mcv1788@gmail.com.

CURRENT 2025 SCHEDULE
May 19—Moreland Christian (3rd Monday)
June 23—OPEN
July 28—OPEN
August 25—Science Hill
September 22—Jamestown Christian
October 27—OPEN
November 24—OPEN

APPRECIATION EXTENDED
Let us take a moment to say a big ‘Thank You’ to White Mills for hosting the Men’s Conference this month. Appreciate all the care and hard work put forth to ensure a wonderful conference.
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FOOD FOR THOUGHT
In reading through Matthew 26 if Jesus himself would turn to the Father in His time of need, how much more should we? And in the face of our most trying times are we able to say, “Not my will, but Yours?”

Matthew 26:36-42
36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” 37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. 38 Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.”

39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”

40 Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? 41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

42 Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.”
We should each examine our prayer lives and ask ourselves are we taking all things to the Lord in prayer? Or are we relying on self much too often?

INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES
“The greatest and best talent that God gives to any man or woman in the world is the talent of prayer.” – Alexander Whyte
“Prayer does not fit us for the greater work; prayer is the greater work.” Oswald Chambers
“It is possible to move men, through God, by prayer alone.” – Hudson Taylor

NEXT MEETING February 24, 2025
7 p.m. (EST)
Columbia Christian Church
Speaker: Steve Lawson, Campbellsville

WORD OF APPRECIATION
Thank you to Glendale Christian for hosting our January meeting. There were 77 men present from 19 congregations.

HOSTS NEEDED
If your church would like to host a meeting in 2025, please contact Secretary, Mike Vaught at mcv1788@gmail.com..

CURRENT 2025 SCHEDULE
February 24—Columbia Christian
March 24—Egypt Christian
April 28—Hiseville Christian
May 19—Moreland Christian (3rd Monday)
June 23—OPEN
July 28—OPEN
August 25—OPEN
September 22—Jamestown Christian
October 27—OPEN
November 24—OPEN

WINTER WEATHER ALERT
If weather conditions require the cancellation of our meetings, information will be posted on the website, www.kymenforchrist.org. You may also contact any member of the Executive
Committee.

Thought of the Month
How am I showing the LOVE of Christ to my family, friends and community?

FEBRUARY – THE MONTH OF LOVE
May we remember that God has called us to love not only our family and loved ones but to love one another as Christ has loved us.

John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples: if ye have love one for another.”

1 John 4: v10 Herein is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. v11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

Romans 5:8 But God commandeth His love toward us in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES
“What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like.” – St. Augustine

“I cannot love you as I love myself until I love God as I ought to love Him.” – Jack Hyles

“To love someone means to see him as God intended him.” – Fyodor Dostoevsky

Whether we were rooting for the Chiefs or the Eagles this year I think we were all rooting for more Godly coaches like these below to help lead young men to Christ.
“God’s definition of success is really one of significance-the significant difference our lives can make in the lives of others. The significance doesn’t show up in won-loss records, long resumes, or the trophies gathering dust on our mantels. It’s found in the hearts and lives of those we’ve come across who are in some way better because of the way we lived.” ~ Tony Dungy (Tampa Bay Bucs & Indianapolis Colts)

“You and I are players, God’s our coach, and we’re playing the biggest game of all. We have a loving God that made us. We need to get on His team. It says in His word, there’s only one way to Him and that’s through Jesus Christ.”
~ Joe Gibbs (Washington Redskins)