Honoring A significant influencer in Estes Park

On July 9, 1935, a special man was born. This year we celebrate Richard (Dick) Barlow’s 90th birthday. His quiet strength, kindness, wisdom, and love have touched his family’s lives, but also many in Estes Park.

He married the love of his life, Ann Paglia Barlow, on February 11, 1954. Drafted on January 20, 1958, he served at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Eventually, he bought Tony’s Restaurant in Salina, Ks, where he raised his three children, Steve Barlow, Mondy Hegwood, and Richard Barlow, alongside his wife. Taking his lifelong knowledge of the restaurant business, he created Tony’s frozen pizza, still found in grocery stores today. He sold the business to Schwann’s in 1970.

He turned his entrepreneurial spirit towards co-founding Rema Bakeware in 1983, manufacturing and selling Cushionair, Airbake, Crispi Crust, and Perfect Crust bakeware. He was honored as the Kansas Small Business Person of the Year in 1988. Later, he was first runner-up to the U.S. Small Business Person of the Year and met President Bush at the White House.

After “retiring” from those businesses, Dick and Ann were encouraged by Tony Paglia, who opened Bob and Tony’s on Main Street, to come to Estes Park, a place of potential. Here they invested in building Barlow Plaza, which opened in 1989 (now Benbrook Plaza), which included Mama Rosa’s (named after Ann’s mother using her traditional recipes passed down from Italy), Poppy’s, Annie’s Gourmet kitchen shop, Bobo’s ice cream, and Rags-to-Riches clothing store.

Later, he turned Mama Rosa and Poppy’s over to his sons. Both businesses are currently owned by Rob and Julie Pieper. After completing this new adventure, he turned his abilities towards constructing the Grey Fox subdivision off of Hwy34. They sold these properties and moved to Loveland after Ann battled some health issues. She went to be with her Lord and Savior in December 2018.

But his greatest accomplishments were and are his service to the Estes Park community and missionaries worldwide. He has blessed many of you and you won’t know it. He gives all the glory to God, who has taught him to be loving and kind. Now living in Loveland Co., you will still find him on Mondays and Fridays delivering Bibles to local Estes shops.

We, his family, three children, six grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren, are blessed to have him as an example of a well-lived life. He loves us unconditionally, gives us guidance, and encourages us to become the best we can be. Together we will celebrate his 90th birthday with an open house on Saturday, July 12, 2025. If you would like to send a birthday card, please mail it to 1328 Crabapple Dr., Loveland, Co. 80538.

Niki Barlow, Loveland