Marion Franklin Barnette Jr.

Marion Franklin Barnette, Jr., 78, died on Monday, January 10, 2011 from complications after brain surgery. Born August 3, 1932 in Charleston, SC he joined the United States Air Force in 1950, attaining the rank of Master Sergeant, he retired in 1970 from Eglin AFB. He met Lorraine Manning in Orlando on a blind date on his birthday in 1956. It was love at first sight; a love that will last through eternity. Married on March 23, 1957, they celebrated 53 anniversaries with their original bride and groom atop a cake. The Air Force sent them to Kansas, Tennessee and Japan, but they knew they would return to Orlando to raise their family. He worked many years in Winter Garden as an auto mechanic and finished his career at Page Avjet in 1992. He enjoyed fishing and riding motorcycles with the Florida Trail Riders in the 1980's. In retirement he found a new passion in building and flying radio controlled airplanes and anything to do with military history. His heart was broken when his oldest son Darrell passed away suddenly in 2002. He is survived by his beloved wife, Lorraine; daughters,

Teresa, Joanne (Andy), Noreen (Tim); son, Brian (Beverly), all of Orlando; daughter-in-law, Dale

(Alabama); grandsons, Thomas, Sean, Kevin, Matthew, Benjamin; granddaughters, Brittany and

Lauren; brother, Dessie; and sisters, Vera and Margaret all from South Carolina, and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his son Darrell and brothers Bob and Jack. He loved his family; he was loved by them and will be greatly missed by his golden retriever pal, Jasper. We will honor his life with a visitation on Thursday, January 13 from 6 - 8 pm and funeral on Friday, January 14 at 2:00 pm at Carey Hand Colonial Memorial Chapel, 2811 Curry Ford Road, Orlando, FL 32806, 407-898-7661, followed by burial at Woodlawn Cemetery.