Paul “Pete” Edwin Baria, age 92, passed away Monday, the 22nd of February 2021, after complications from pneumonia. A loving husband, father and grandfather, he will be dearly missed by his family, friends and caregivers.
Pete was born in Gulfport, MS on the 23rd of August 1928, and was the youngest of five. Much of his youth was spent on the water sailing, shrimping, and oystering. Pete’s father worked for the railroad and took in family members from all across the country during the Great Depression, filling Pete’s childhood home with lots of cousins, aunts and uncles. The family later relocated to Hattiesburg, MS.
Early in his adult life, Pete learned to travel the world. He enlisted in the U.S. Army at the age of 18 and was stationed in Seoul, South Korea as a supply sergeant before the war. He received his honorable discharge and attended Mississippi State College on the GI Bill, earning a B.S. in Petroleum Geology. In 1951, Pete went to Venezuela as a Geophysicist with Socony Vacuum of Venezuela (Mobil) where he worked on seismic crews laying geophones through thick jungle and across streams and rivers filled with anaconda and caribes (piranha). In Caracas, Pete met his future wife Mary, an ex-pat who had grown up in the Exxon oil camps. In 1954, Pete joined Conorada Petroleum Corporation as a Geologist in Libya taking him into many remote areas of the desert. Later that year, Mary joined Pete in Tripoli where they were married. Their daughter Nancy was born there. In 1956, Pete returned with his family to Caracas where they lived for 4 years while he worked for Conoco. During that time their younger daughter Marcie was born.
Pete’s career with Conoco took him around the world. In 1961 on a business trip to Ethiopia, Pete survived a plane crash into a river, suffering second degree burns on his hands and forehead. As a testimony to his courage, he would continue to travel worldwide in his job from homes in NYC, Houston and Westport, CT. In 1963, he attended the Harvard Business School’s PMD program.
In 1969 the family moved to London, England where Pete established an international oil company, eventually acquiring concessions in the North Sea, Africa and the Far East. In 1972, he joined Zapata Corporation and remained in London until the family’s return to Houston in 1980. In 1986, Pete retired from his position as Chairman and CEO of Zapata Exploration. Mary had been diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer, stage 4 and their lives became centered around her care. Pete navigated her care for almost 18 more years. He became a longtime volunteer at St. Luke’s hospital with Mary. After Mary’s passing in 2004, Pete remained in Houston to be close to family.
Pete is predeceased by his beloved wife Mary Murphy Baria, his parents George Emory Baria and Pauline Chastang Baria and his siblings George Emory Baria Jr., Joseph Murry Baria, Aline Baria Butler and Julia Baria Showers, his nephew Paul C. Baria, and his nieces Pauline Butler and Julia Mount. He is survived by his daughter Marcelite Baria Bristol, son-in-law David A. Bristol, Jr, and granddaughters Louisa Christine Bristol and Isabelle Marcelite Bristol all of Houston, TX, and his daughter Nancy Baria Richards of Savannah, GA and granddaughter Mary Bryarly Richards and grandson Andrew Ward Richards of Washington, D.C.; He is also survived by his nephews Larry Baria of Jackson, MS, Jack Showers of Lafayette, LA, Murry Baria of El Macero, CA and his nieces Lynn Baria of Corpus Christi, TX and Emory Bradley of Ponchatoula, LA.
Our thanks to Pete’s wonderful caregivers Nory, Neri and Jovi who kept him safe and healthy.
A private family gathering will be held at a later date at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church.
An avid reader, Pete turned to audiobooks after developing macular degeneration. In lieu of customary remembrances, please make a donation to Friends of Spring Branch Memorial Library, 930 Corbindale St., Houston, TX 77024; St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, 717 Sage Road, Houston, TX 77056; or to the charity of one’s choice.
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