Robert Leroy "Lee" Barfield

Robert Leroy “Lee” Barfield Lakeland – Robert Leroy “Lee” Barfield died Saturday, October 20, 2018, of natural causes at home. He was 92. Born on December 22, 1925, in Vienna, Georgia to John and Blanche Barfield. After graduating from Georgia School of Technology in 1946, Lee completed his service in the U.S. Navy before moving here to Lakeland to live most of his life with his cherished wife of 65 years, Grace Earle “Jeff” Barfield who passed October 1, 2012. They had two children, Brad (Betty - late) of Lakeland and Mark (Lisa) of Deltona, Florida. Lee had three grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Lee was longtime co-owner and manager of Barfield Groves in Polk City. After serving as president of the Lakeland Water Ski Club 1963 to 1966, Lee’s second love (after Jeff!) became and remained sprint car racing. Lee and Jeff were familiar faces on the sprint car circuit throughout the Midwest and Florida until their final days. Lee served on the board of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Iowa for two terms. For more than a dozen years, they sponsored the “Barfield Clean Sweep” award, later known as the “Jeff Barfield Memorial Clean Sweep,” for drivers of Top Gun Sprints. That sponsorship continues to this day. Visitation will be held on Friday, October 26, 2018 from 12-2 pm with services following at 2 pm at Heath Funeral Chapel, 328 South Ingraham Ave, Lakeland, Florida 33801. Interment will take place at Oak Hill Burial Park, 4620 US Highway 98 South, Lakeland, Florida 33812.