James Eldon Barbee

June 19, 1918 – August 28, 2014

James Barbee, 96, passed away August 28 with his two sons at his side.

Born in Pullman, WA to Loyd and Alta Mae Barbee, James graduated from Pullman

High School and earned a Chemical Engineering degree from WSU. He married

Mary Lucille Reitzel on Valentine’s Day of 1942. Together they raised three sons,

James, Robert and Roger, in Medina, WA.

His wife, Mary, and son, James, predeceased him.

James later married Doris Smawley Day, a former grade school - high school classmate

and fellow WSU alum. They remained loyal “Cougar” fans throughout their 20 year marriage.

Meticulous in all things, James’s motto was “measure twice, cut once.” Attention to detail

defined his 44 year career at The Boeing Aeronautics Co. He contributed his expertise to the

B-17, B-29, B-52, 707, Minuteman Missile, Lunar Orbiter and managed development of the AWAC System’s Radome.

James displayed working models from his extensive collection at many Lionel Train meets.

His grandchildren and great-grandchildren still enjoy the children’s set-up he crafted for them.

In later years, his favorite activity was sharing Friday lunches with his sons at F.X. McRory’s.

An honest man with uncompromising integrity, James will be missed by his good friends

and large extended family.

Arrangements under the direction of Sunset Hills Funeral Home, Bellevue, WA.