Eric D Barrow

Eric Dewayne Barrow, 50, loving husband, father, and son, of Port St. John, Florida, passed away unexpectedly on February 3, 2023. He is survived and deeply missed by his loving wife of 25 years, Ashli and children, Jack (Paige) Barrow and Kyleigh Leonetti; survived and missed by his parents, Dewayne (Vicki) Barrow and Sharon (Gregory) Merritt.  Eric is forever cherished by his two grandchildren, Ashli Leonetti and Finley Barrow. He will be remembered fondly by his in-laws, John (Sheila) Gillingham, Nancy Wood, and Wade (Pam) Gillingham. He is preceded in death by both maternal and paternal grandparents, father-in-law, Curtis Wood, and service K-9 dog/partner, Rik.

Eric was born in Tampa, Florida, to Dewayne and Sharon (Thompson) Barrow on April 9, 1972. He grew up in Cocoa, Florida as an only child. He attended Cocoa High School, where he had many friends and was held in high regard. During these days he loved spending time working on his truck and being outdoors as much as he could. Eric graduated from Cocoa High School in 1990.

After graduating high school, Eric joined the US Army, where he served as a Long-Range Surveillance Ranger, assigned to rapid deployment unit with the 18th Airborne Corp. in Ft Bragg NC. Eric participated in Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti and Operation Robin Sage established with the Special Forces training center in Ft. Bragg.

After being honorably discharged, he worked for the Brevard County Sheriff’s department for 3 years and then followed in his father’s footsteps and went on to become a trooper with the Florida Highway Patrol (Troop D) in 1998. He dedicated 26 years to a career in law enforcement and being a law enforcement officer. He also had 3-year stint with Port Canaveral Police, allowing him the opportunity to work and train with Homeland Security becoming a handler/partner to Explosive Detection K-9 GSP, Rik. His accomplishments with Port Canaveral Police Department included being the K-9 Handler course team lead, completion of Dignitary Protection training, agency Firearms Instructor and multiple security details and sweeps for real world events.  During his tenure at the Florida Highway Patrol, he diligently worked his way from Trooper, became a member of the Tactical Response Team, member of the Patrol Honor Guard, The Dignitary Protection Team, earned a General Instructors and High Liability Certificate, and ultimately achieving the role of Homicide Investigator prior to retirement. Eric always searched for ways to take advanced courses to better himself professionally and personally. He always represented himself in a professional manner and was recognized for such time and time again.  In August 2000, he was awarded the Florida Highway Patrol’s most distinguished award of The Medal of Valor in recognition for his personal act of distinguished heroism, going above and beyond the call of duty without hesitation or regard for his own personal safety. He retired in 2021 and went on to explore many hobbies before joining his wife at Jaguar Land Rover Melbourne as a Service Advisor for the past year.

While he was a man of incredible work ethic, he was a devoted family man with a huge heart. He met his wife, Ashli, in 1996 and they were married on July 7, 1997. In 1999, he adopted her two children, Jack and Kyleigh. Eric never wavered from providing, raising, caring for and never looking at them as anything other than his own children.  He loved traveling with his wife and family, especially via cruise excursions. He also took the time and effort to plan fun couple’s activities for he and Ashli, including candle making, food preparation classes, wine tasting, dance lessons, and more. He enjoyed eating out with extended family, and one of his favorite spots was at El Leoncito’s for Margarita Monday. He was PopPop to granddaughters, Ashli and Finley, and he looked forward to weekend adventures them. PopPop always took an active role in activities with them, such as ornament making, homemade ice cream, frozen yogurt trips, and dance parties in the living room.  They helped introduce him to Disney movies, finger, and toenail painting, and added another exposure to his genre of music.

Eric was a man of many hobbies, had a great passion for animals and a jack of all trades. There was nothing he couldn’t accomplish once he put his mind, and hands, to it. He loved working outdoors and built many things over the years, including a tiki bar, pergola, pool deck and chicken coop for the backyard. In recent years, he restored a tractor, a boat, and rebuilt way too many carburetors than he cared to think about. He had a true affinity for hunting and regularly visited a hunting camp in Tifton, Georgia with family and friends. He would come home with enough venison to feed the entire family until the next season.

Services will be held on March 7th at North Brevard Funeral Home, 1450 Norwood Ave in Titusville, FL. All who wish to attend are welcome. Visitation at 10am and services at 11am. Eric will be honorably laid to rest at the Cape Canaveral National Cemetery, 5525 N. US Hwy1 in Mims, FL at 12:30pm. Flowers are appreciated, or a memorial contribution may be made to K9s for Warriors – In Memory of Eric (and Rik).

When peace, like a river attendeth my way

When sorrows like sea billows roll;

Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,

It is well, it is well, with my soul.”

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.