In Memory

From Mindat.org:

I bring the sad news that Dr. Henry(Bumpi) Barwood passed away this afternoon. Bumpi had a procedure to remove a large kidney stone. The procedure went well and he went to recovery and a short time later he was gone. For over fifty eight years he was my very good true friend and I was blessed to know him. Bumpi is survived by his wife, Jane, son Adam(Amy) and daughter Shelby. Bumpi had the ability to find minerals, identify minerals, build equipment to study minerals and take wonderful microphotographs. His ability to communicate was unrivaled, he was a good teacher and gave informative and enjoyable presentations on microminerals, fossils, clay mineralogy, and many other topics. He knew more about the syenite deposits of Arkansas than anyone. Our mineral world has lost a giant in more ways than one.

Robert Stevens

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It is with heavy heart that I must report the loss of Dr. Henry “Bumpi” Barwood. Dr. Barwood was a professor at Troy University, Troy, AL, where he taught geology and earth science. His passion was microminerals and he was very active in the micro community. Many GMS members will remember seeing him at Graves Mountain sitting in a hole that looked like someone had lobbed a hand grenade into it or speaking at a mineral symposium or micro gathering. He was an excellent photographer, too. You can find a multitude of his stunning photomicrographs on Mindat. Because his knowledge was so extensive and his willingness to help others equally vast, his responses to questions about minerals are on message boards all over the internet. He was generous with his time and expertise when you needed a mineral specimen identified and always enjoyed a mineral mystery. He was knowledgeable, and humble, and fun, and sweet, and he will be missed.

Lori Carter as GMS Webmaster

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Dr. Barwood, Bumpi, Bump -- he had many names but to me he was Henry. When the news of his passing arrived, I was excited at first because I thought it was email from Henry, but shock and sadness soon followed. He always had time to answer email about minerals that were befuddling me. He analyzed every silly sample I gave him and offered his expertise with explanations tuned to my level of experience. We had some fun discussions related to sand too. I considered it an honor and a delight to converse with him. He leaves a void not just in my tiny corner, but in the whole mineral and rockhound world, a void so vast and painful that words cannot describe. I will miss his 1:00 am email responses and those satisfying moments we would share when he solved a mineral mystery, just for me.

Lori Carter as Henry's friend

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Some of Dr. Barwood's Articles and Photomicrographs

Phosphate Minerals at Graves Mountain, Georgia

Svanbergite from Graves Mountain, Lincolnton, GA

Report on some trips to Graves Mountain

Mindat Photomicrographs