Steven ‘Steve’ Wayne Barlow

The world lost one of its kindest and most gentle spirits when Steven “Steve” Wayne Barlow, who lost his valiant fight against lymphoma on January 11, 2022.

Born to Pat and Joann Barlow on May 5, 1956, Steve spent his formative years voraciously devouring books by the dozens and, much to his mother’s dismay, collecting and bringing home any stray creature he could befriend.

Steve excelled at Louisiana Tech University, making lifelong friends with fellow Sigma Nu fraternity brothers and meeting the woman who would chart the course of his life.

Steve and Donna were married in 1979 and spent the next 42 years building a life and a family that included three daughters he adored.

Sarah and her husband John Kozloski contributed two of Papa’s crew in grandsons Ryker and Easton. Aubrey and Oliver Williams proudly added two more crew members in grandsons Trip and Levi. Becca and Trevor Conkle rounded out the crew with granddaughter Keeley and grandson Bodhi.

His kindness, generous spirit, love for all creatures great and small, and fierce devotion to his family will live on in his grandchildren who already exemplify so many of the qualities that made him unforgettable.

He will be deeply missed by those he leaves behind, including younger sisters Vicki Barlow and Patti Baughman, along with Patti’s husband Stein III, their son, Stein IV and his wife Jen.

He was the ultimate “nice guy” in all the best ways, constantly there to lend a hand, a word of encouragement, help with no expectation of recognition or reciprocation. He was a devoted husband, loving father, proud papa, voracious reader, sci-fi junkie, animal and baby whisperer, and a friend to all. There will never be another quite like him.

A memorial will be held Saturday at Temple Baptist Church in Ruston. The receiving line will start at 10 a.m. with the service set for 11 a.m.