Frank Oliver Barrett Jr.

Commander Frank O. Barrett of Fairfax, Virginia, passed away quietly on December 27, 2011. Beloved husband of the late Wilma Reyer Barrett, loving father of Frank of North Potomac, MD, William of Melbourne, FL, James of Woodbridge, VA, and Steven of Las Cruces, NM; and brother of the late Gwynne B. Dodge of Alexandria, VA. He had eleven grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.

Frank was born 1 February 1922 in El Paso to Dr. and Mrs. Frank and Mozelle Barrett. He entered the U.S. Naval Academy in the summer of 1940 as a member of the Class of 1944. It was wartime class that completed studies in three years. Graduating in the summer of 1943, he reported to the USS Ellet (DD-398) during the Pacific campaign of World War II. During the war, the Ellet served as the flagship for the commodore of the destroyer squadron patrolling the Solomons with Task Force 16, bombarding Iwo Jima, and served as a component of the Marianas Patrol and Escort Group.

Following WWII, Frank became a Naval Aviator, fulfilling his childhood dream. During the Korean War, he was assigned to VP-17 flying the P-4Ys and later P-2s. Following tours took him to instructor duty at the U.S. Naval Academy, the USS Bennington (CVS-20), The Peruvian Naval War College, Lima, Peru, and Naval Aviation Schools Command, Pensacola, FL.

In 1967, Frank retired from the Navy and moved to Las Cruces, NM where he completed his studies and was awarded his Master’s Degree in Computer Science. He later resided in El Paso, TX and San Antonio, TX, before moving to Fairfax, VA in 1994.

When time permitted, Frank spent much of his time in his garage woodworking shop. As a founding member of the All Saints American Episcopal Church of San Antonio, Frank used his cabinetry skills to build furniture for the church. He also enjoyed visiting his four sons and their families scattered around the world.

A gravesite service will be held 4 January 2011 at the San Antonio Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, TX.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the National Parkinson’s Foundation on Frank’s behalf.