Mary Lou Barrentine at the age of 97, with her family beside her, passed away February 10, 2022 in San Antonio TX. Randolph Air Force Base, which had been the first assignment for the couple after her marriage to fighter-pilot Emmett S. Barrentine, Jr.,76 years ago, could be seen from the window in her room. Modern USAF planes flew overhead. It was a beautiful sunny day. We shall miss her and are comforted by this final day.
She was always an extraordinary person. Talented, smart, lovely, kind, caring, poised, giving, loved - by her family, her husband, her sister, her children and their spouses, her grandchildren, the community, and New Haven Memory Care (where she lived her last days).
She is preceded in death by her parents, brother Sonny, sister Bebe and husband Emmett, as well as by her beloved Beagles.
She leaves behind her four children (and their spouses): Ellen Barrentine, Leigh Barrentine Doerr (Bob), Col.Gary E. Barrentine, USAF Ret (Cory) and Glen P. Barrentine (Meredith),
eleven Grandchildren, 20 Great-grandchildren, and one brand new Great-great-grandchild!
Mary Lou Cullen was born in 1924 in Tulsa, Oklahoma to Helen Jane League and Hal Hill Cullen.
Her maternal grandfather James Riley League was a newspaperman, judge and attorney in the Oklahoma Territory.
Her maternal grandmother Mary Ellen Crawford League made “the Run'' in the 1893 Oklahoma Land Rush.
Her mother Helen Jane League was born in 1900 in the Oklahoma Territory, the second of three children.
Her paternal grandfather Linburn Cullen was a deputy sheriff in Oxford Mississippi.
Her paternal grandmother was Francis Lea McEachin Cullen.
Her father Hal Hill Cullen was born in 1897 in Oxford, Mississippi, the seventh of eight children. He was a classmate of William Faulkner. He joined the Marine Corps during the First World War and served in France.
The Cullen family resided originally in Oklahoma, then in Syracuse, NY; McAllen, Texas; Grenada, Mississippi; & finally in Memphis Tennessee.
Mary Lou graduated high school in Grenada in 1942, which Emmett also attended.They were high school sweethearts. She then attended MSCW and then University of Mississippi, graduating in 1945. Emmett joined the USAAF during WWll & became a fighter pilot stationed in East Anglia in Britain. He returned home in 1945, and they were wed in Grenada at First Presbyterian Church. After the war, he attended Mississippi State, but rejoined the military when the Air Force was formed in 1947. Their life together took them all over the world.
Ellen was born in Grenada MS. The family then transferred to Furstunfeldbruk in Germany. Leigh was born in Munich. They were then stationed in Arizona at Luke Air Base where Gary was born. Glen was born in England while they were stationed at RAF Base Shepherd’s Grove. The family lived many places in the States after this and one more overseas: Clark Air Base in the Philippines. (Emmett also saw air combat in Vietnam). After an assignment to the Pentagon, thirty years of service and at the rank of Colonel, Emmett retired. He and Mary Lou moved to live in Germantown, Tennessee, where they became active members of Farmington Presbyterian Church. Among their many pastimes, Mary Lou enjoyed sewing projects, creating delicate craft items, making beautifully decorated cookies, and teaching young children at Farmington’s pre-school; Emmett played golf (a hole-in-one!), volunteered at the VA and at the Church, and grew roses. As well, their grandchildren, family, friends, volunteering, and doting on their Beagles filled their days.
Together for 68 years, they certainly led full and interesting lives. Following the demise of her husband, Mary Lou moved to Texas to live with her daughter and son-in-law. Her final few years were spent at New Haven also in Texas.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MemphisFuneralPoplar.com for the Barrentine family.
