Otis Alton Barron Sr.

Born: Houston, Texas, September 17, 1923

Died: Austin, Texas, October 6, 2018

Jim was many things to many people, most importantly he was loving husband to his beautiful wife, Arlene, for 67 years. He was an adoring father to Cherie and Alton, loving father-in-law to Carrie, and inimitable grandpa to Chloe, Caroline, and Nicholas.

Jim was born in Houston to Winnie Lois and Cleveland Barron during the Great Depression. His father died when Jim was only 7, and so work was the norm even from an early age, but Jim also knew the value of diversion and purpose: he fished for striped bass in the Gulf of Mexico, was a scratch golfer, a boxer, a man who could build and repair almost anything, from the Model T Ford he built from only an 8-dollar chassis and engine, to the immense two-story barn Jim, Arlene and the kids built from the ground up. He could draw almost anything you asked him to.

After high school, Jim joined the Naval Air Force, serving during World War II as tail gunner in a B-29 bomber. He saw no combat though, all the while patrolling the Pacific Northwest coastline for enemy planes and ships.

Jim returned to Houston after the war and studied engineering at the University of Houston. He then went to work for Humble Oil where he and then Arlene traveled and lived throughout Northern California and Texas, living long enough in Alice for Cherie to be born and then in Childress where Alton was born. They settled in Sugar Land on farmland Jim had bought on the GI Bill.

Jim worked as an engineer and in oil exploration for Exxon for 36 years- such a rarity in subsequent generations to work so long and loyally for one company. Jim was pre-deceased by his brother, Harvey Cleveland Barron and sister Lovelle Bauer, of Clear Lake, Texas and Houston, respectively.

After spending many years vacationing in Austin at Lake Travis, Jim and Arlene bought their bucolic lake house in 1983 and lived a wonderful life there until the very end. This serene setting became the summer camp for Chloe, Nicholas and Caroline for their entire young lives, where they learned cooking and carpentry and water sports and how to live simply and well with dignity and grace and doing for others.

And that is where this obituary should wind down: Jim was truly loved and respected by all with whom he came into contact. Jim was a friend to all and respectful of everyone, but especially respected the men and women who worked hard to keep the world running. Jim was dignified and gracious, loved to dress most dapper, had exceptional handwriting and had a large vocabulary that he kept mostly to himself. He collected all sorts of things in his work shed that he knew he could repair or use to repair something else. He was a gentleman to a fault, and taught his children and grandchildren to be the same. He married an original feminist before feminism was talked about, and showed Arlene the utmost respect and gratitude throughout their long life together. He could back up a truck with a long boat on a trailor faster and more deftly than anyone. At 60, he could suddenly sprint and outrun people 30 years younger. He never cursed except when he banged his head or his shins on hard metal objects or struck his thumb with a hammer- so actually, he cursed quite a lot, but always at himself and inanimate objects. Jim was a deft and capable driver until this past August, as evinced by the fact that he taught all of his three grandchildren to drive out in the hills around Lake Travis, well before they had learner’s permits. Jim would be peeved if he saw a beautiful sunset and had forgotten his camera. He was always looking forward to the next thing, and he could never be heard speaking ill of people in his life. His cognitive and physical fitness throughout his life, up until the last two months, was the stuff of legends for friends and family alike.

Suffice it to say, our world has lost a great and good man, who never tried to be more than who he was, and who always tried to build up and support those around him, to make them feel smarter, abler, and better about themselves. He will never be forgotten by any who knew him.

A memorial celebration of Jim's life will be held in Austin in the next month or two with details to be forthcoming.

in Lieu of flowers or other offerings, the Barrons gratefully welcome donations in Jim's honor to the link: bit.ly/barronmemorial.