Walter R. “Skip” Barys, Jr., 73, of Phoenix Road, died Saturday, December 8, 2018, at St. Vincent Hospital in Worcester, with his family by his side. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Judy A. Barys of Auburn; two children, Barbara A. McKeon and her husband Matt of Oxford, and Bob J. Barys and his companion Spring Libutti of Fort Myers, FL; his brother, James A. Barys and his wife Elizabeth of Oakham; three grandchildren, Justin, Matthew, and Jenna; a nephew Mitchell; a niece Julia; and several cousins. He was born in Fort Monroe, VA, son of the late Walter R. and Ruth E. (Burns) Barys, and lived in Holden before moving to Auburn in 1970. He graduated from Wachusett Regional High School in 1963, received his bachelor’s degree from Clark University in Worcester in 1967, and received his master’s degree in guidance and psychology from Assumption College in Worcester in 1969.

Skip was a guidance counselor at Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School in Charlton for over 30 years, retiring in 2003. During the summer, he worked at Jack’s Boat Rentals in Wellfleet. While attending Clark University, he excelled at basketball and eventually entered into the Hall of Fame at Clark. Skip’s favorite place to spend time was Wellfleet. He enjoyed skiing, boogie-boarding, walking on the beach, kayaking, hiking, biking, and most of all loved spending time with his family. He was an avid reader, a fan of the Boston sports teams, and most of all he loved to watch his grandchildren playing sports.

The family would like to offer a special thank you to the ICU staff at St. Vincent Hospital that cared for Skip.

Memorial calling hours are Thursday, December 13, 2018, from 4-7 p.m. at Paradis-Givner Funeral Home, 357 Main St., Oxford. Services and burial will be private at a later date.