Belle Gainor Barrett

Belle (Gainor) Barrett, 92, passed away peacefully on March 7, 2021, in her home in Safety Harbor, FL. She was born on June 2, 1928, in Steubenville, OH and lived in Holidays Cove, WV (now Weirton, WV) with her late parents, Doyle and Cosie Gainor. She attended Bethany College in Bethany, WV and a business college in Steubenville, OH.

Belle married her childhood sweetheart, Charles (Chuck) Barrett in 1949 and they began their 48 years together as loving, devoted life partners. After marriage, they moved to Morgantown, WV while Chuck got his degree from West Virginia University. She worked in the university’s book store and later became a secretary for Irvin Stewart, then president of WVU. After Chuck’s graduation, they moved to Rockville, MD where they both worked for the federal government at David Taylor Model Basin and Belle became one of the personal secretaries for the director of the lab. They eventually created and worked together at their new venture HydroSpace Research. In 1972, they made their home in Kent Island, MD and formed a partnership to purchase Piney Narrows Marina. They enjoyed cruising the Chesapeake Bay and the intercoastal waterway to Florida in their 43’ Egg Harbor named “Belle.” Belle and Chuck began spending more time in Florida and they eventually became part of the Lover’s Oak Condominium community in Safety Harbor, FL with their beloved dog, Timmy.

Belle was known for her love of food and amazed everyone with her capacity to leisurely enjoy every bite. She was also known for her passion for shopping and home decorating. She especially enjoyed decorating their homes in Maryland and Florida.

Belle touched the lives of many people over the years with her generous heart and nurturing spirit and she will be greatly missed. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Chuck in 1997. She is survived by a sister-in-law, Barbara (Barrett) Dofka of Weirton, WV. A memorial service will be held at a later date at Sylvan Abbey Memorial Park in Clearwater, FL. Donations in Belle’s memory may be given to Suncoast Hospice, 5771 Roosevelt Blvd., Clearwater, FL, 33760.