Mark Barfield

Mark Warren Barfield, 66, passed away unexpectedly on April 6th at his home in Wichita, KS.

During the peak of the summer of 1958, he was born in Fort Leavenworth, KS, joining a military family repeatedly shuffled by the demands of the Cold War. His father, J.D. Barfield, served overseas during the Korean and Vietnam Wars, while his mother, Anna Barfield, bravely served on the domestic front, working in the civil service while maintaining order in a household that grew to quarter five children, Mark third among them.

While this childhood took him around the country, from Kansas to Hawaii to Florida, he, like many in the family, eventually settled in Wichita. It was there that he began his journey along a meandering path, starting as a bartender at Kirby’s before moving into a career as a history teacher, fathering two sons, and eventually retiring into a life of friends, family, and the freedom to enjoy his hobbies.

But for those who knew Mark, the moments that encapsulated his absurdist character could be found in the ordinarily mundane corners of life: a dining room wall with a self-commissioned painting of an elephant, brushed directly onto the plaster; a Christmas “tree” constructed seasonally in his living room like a pyramid, built book by book from an extensive archive of historical tomes; a backyard brimming with life, packed with repurposed decorations and an array of plants that were regularly rearranged; and a Facebook profile filled with the art of friends, head-scratching musings, and regular tributes to the many people he loved.

This caring eccentricity paired with a bold, provocative curiosity drove him to ask complex questions and engage in difficult conversations in pursuit of the betterment of the world around him: one which he reviewed and analyzed through a study of history that spanned the decades of his life.

Watching a day of his existence, any viewer would come to adore the kind, empathetic, generous, eccentric, curious, easygoing, brilliant character on their screen, and for those who were lucky enough to star alongside him in the show of his life, he will be dearly missed. Surviving members of that cast include his two beloved sons, Will and Teddy; his four siblings, David, Michael, Laura, and James; an array of wonderful nieces and nephews (and a few of their cherubic kids); a party full of fantastic, loyal friends; and Mitty, his fearless black cat.

A private ceremony will be held on Friday, April 11, after which a memorial party will be held from 4pm to 7pm at Mark’s house. He will be interned in the green section (of course!) of Ascension Cemetery, resting under an oak tree alongside those who will surely become new friends. Old friends will always be welcome to visit.