Barry Forrest Malac age 92 of Blairsville, GA. passed away Thursday Sept. 15, 2016 following a brief illness. Barry Forrest Malac was born in Vienna, Austria, Dec. 12, 1923 to Rev. Gustav Josef Malac and Antonia Kostlanova Malac who were serving a Czech Methodist church there. In 1927 they returned to their native Czechoslovakia where Rev. Malac was Methodist pastor until retirement.

Barry is survived by his wife of 67 years Marian Bartak Malac, Brother Vlasta Malac of Prague Czech Republic, sons Roy Malac and Carolyn Pierce Malac of Melbourne, FL, Tim Malac and wife Theresa Brunn Malac of Gaithersburg, Md, and daughter Deborah Malac of Kampala, Uganda, and husband Ronald Olson of Vienna, VA. Grandchildren Lisa Malac, Kim Malac, Nick Olson, Greg Olson, Katharine Olson, Stephanie Malac, Michael Malac, Matthew Malac, great-granddaughter Christina Smith, and nieces and nephews.

Barry was taken to Erding, Germany by Nazis as a forced laborer 1943 and in 1945 was freed by Patton’s forces. On return to Czechoslovakia he studied forest engineering in Prague. He was also a scoutmaster. He met Marian in 1946 when she returned to Prague with her missionary parents. He served his compulsory military training in the Czech army 1947-49. Barry and Marian were married April 1949 in Prague UMC. Communists took over the government in 1948 and would not issue Barry a passport to emigrate so he escaped to Germany to go with Marian to U.S. They went to Texas where he worked briefly for Kirby Lumber Co. in Silsbee, TX.

In 1952 Barry graduated from Duke U. with M.F. in Forestry and became a U.S. citizen. In 1953 they moved to Savannah where he worked as research forester, Manager of Woodlands Research, then Technical Director for Union-Camp Paper Co. He was very active in Robt. McIntyre UMC, sang in the choir, was volunteer choir director. He was a Scoutmaster and later on the scout committee. He was Methodist Savannah District Layleader in 1960’s. Later he was active in White Bluff UMC. Barry starred in some Savannah Little Theater plays, including as Captain in Sound of Music. The NSDAR awarded him the Americanism Medal for his many achievements.

Barry was a Fellow in the Soc. of American Foresters and served on many national SAF Committees, including Chairman of Silviculture Working Group, Chairman of Forest Science and Technology Board, Chairman of AP/NFPA Forest Research Council. In 1983 he received a reward for Excellence in Forest Research. In 1992 he was inducted into the Georgia Forestry Hall of Fame. He wrote many forestry articles, and published his life story in 2008.

Barry and Marian retired to Blairsville, GA in 1989 and have been active in First UMC of Union Co. since. He was president of the Methodist Men several years, served on many committees, sang in choir, and the Community Chorus, volunteered in middle school, and delivered Meals on Wheels for over 20 years. He was one founder of the Dulcimer Club and taught courses on Dulcimer in OASIS at First UMC. A memorial service will be held on Saturday Sept. 24, 2016 at 2:00 pm from the First United Methodist Church of Blairsville with Rev. Rod McClarnon officiating. The family will meet with friends at the church on Saturday from 1-2:00 pm. Mountain View Funeral Home of Blairsville is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to First UMC. Mountain View Funeral Home of Blairsville is in charge of the arrangements. You may sign the family guest book and send condolences on line at www.mountainviewfuneralhome.com