Rev. Philip Thomas Barnum

Rev. Philip Thomas Barnum passed from this earthly life on August 6th 2020 in Bowling Green, KY. P.T.'s faith and love of Jesus Christ overflowed into every area of his life. He served as a United Methodist Pastor for 41 years throughout the KY and Louisville conferences. As a teenager, he attended a revival in Pittsfield, MA and through the preaching of Bro. E. Stanley Jones felt the Lord calling him into the ministry. Philip was a graduate of Sue Bennett and Union Colleges in KY and earned his Master's in Divinity at Emory University in Atlanta, GA. At Emory he served as the activity director of Davidson School for the Deaf in Decatur, GA.

Upon his retirement in 2011, he and his wife Peggy, a retired teacher, moved to Bowling Green and joined St. James UMC. They wanted to be near their two sons; Stephen (Denise) and their four children (Berkley, Ember, Arlee and Otto) of Nashville along with Michael (Reagan) and their seven children (Helen, Harper, Halle, Henry, Holly, Holt and Harrison) of Woodburn. He is survived by the above family, as well as his mother, Mildred, (103 years) of Great Barrington, MA, and his brother, Bruce, of Lee, MA. His father, Bethuel Barnum, precedes him in death.

Although Kentucky was his home, he was a proud New Englander at heart, growing up in Housatonic, MA with his parents and younger brother. He was a newspaper carrier, an active member in the Housatonic UMC and an avid trout fisherman. The biggest catch of his life (next to his wife) was a 52 lb 4 oz. king salmon on the Talkeetna River in Alaska.

During his ministry P.T. loved people and never met a stranger. He was well known for his boisterous laugh, overflowing generosity and genuine compassion for everyone he met. Philip knew the prayer concerns of his neighbors, the grocery store clerk and never rushed a conversation. His true desire was to share the gospel, the truth and joy found in scripture. He enjoyed shepherding his flock by preaching, visitation ministry, serving on mission boards and spiritual leader in the Emmaus community. Peggy was very involved in his ministry with outreach to others. Last year they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a reception hosted by their family.

As a blood donor he gave over 10 gallons of blood to the American Red Cross, transitioning to an apheresis donor. He was an active Rotarian serving as President of the Central City Rotary Club.

P.T. had fought Alzheimers for the past 11 years. First he was a participant at the BG Adult Day Care then as a resident at Chandler Memory Care, and the final 5 1/2 years at Magnolia Village.