W. Barry Krause, 81, of Lottsburg, Va., passed away on March 9, 2026. A “come here” to the Northern Neck, he married a wonderful, local lady, Mary Margaret, and became a resident of the area for the last 23 years of his life. Barry was born on May 3, 1944, in Manchester, Connecticut, and was raised there. He moved to Virginia in the early ‘60’s to attend Virginia Polytechnic Institute (now Virginia Tech) and major in mechanical engineering. He pursued graduate work at the University of Rhode Island.

In his early career, he worked for NASA at the Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston, developing space suits and life support systems for projects Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo. He spent his life working as a mechanical engineer for companies: Square D (early ‘70’s), C&K out of Boston (late ‘70’s and early ‘80’s), and Oslo out of Fredericksburg (late ‘80’s), where he was known for his expertise. He eventually formed his own company and served as a contract product engineer to his former employers and to other companies spanning Taiwan, Hong Kong, parts of Europe, and the East Coast of the United States. His design products included sensors, infrared heaters, industrial control switches, and hydraulic actuators. Barry holds eleven patents and was inducted into the College of Relay Engineers as an Honorary Fellow.

Despite his many responsibilities, he made time for his family and his passions. His hobbies and interests helped define who he was: an avid sailor, downhill skier, golfer, hunter, fisherman, and gardener. Barry was well-known for being a good cook. He loved experimenting with different recipes and was always pleased when others appreciated his delicious meals. He was also an avid oil painter, painting dozens of breathtaking scenes that catered to the interests of family and friends. One of his greatest joys was teaching the adult Sunday School class at Melrose Methodist Church for the last 15 years. They are naming their class after him. Barry also loved entertaining, captivating his audiences with tales about his many adventures and eliciting laughter with his stories. He was a man of integrity, kindness, and generosity, leaving a lasting impact on everyone who knew him.

He is survived by his loving wife, Mary Margaret; brothers, Rick Krause and William Krause; sister, Janice Bonaccorso; daughter Kristye Moxley (John); son, Daniel Krause (Jen); stepsons, Michael Baughan (Lisa) and Robert Baughan (Debbie); five grandchildren: Matthew (Johnnie), Brandon (Zyhkia), Jordan (Matthew), Megan (Dominic), Leah, Eve, and Max; and three great-grandchildren: Sterling, Emory, and Adeline; as well as many friends and extended family members who will miss him dearly. We find comfort in knowing that Barry’s legacy lives on through the lessons he taught, the love he shared, and the memories we will cherish forever.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 21, 2026 at 2 p.m. at Melrose Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Melrose Methodist.