Paul Richard Barnett
Paul Richard Barnett, 73, of Houston, TX, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday morning, September 9, 2015 after suffering many years with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). He was born May 16, 1942 in Terre Haute, Indiana to Paul Jasper Barnett and Marion Lacey Barnett, and grew up in Casey, Illinois.
Paul graduated from Casey H.S. in 1960. He enlisted as an Airman 1st Class in the U.S. Air Force in 1962. The USAF selected him for the Airman Education Commissioning Program, through which he earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering with minor in Astronautical Engineering in 1966 from Arizona State University. He was then commissioned, and assigned to Vandenburg AFB in Lompoc, CA to assist the Vietnam War efforts through its satellite surveillance and aerospace program. Paul was honorably discharged with the rank of Captain in 1970.
While at ASU, he met and married Gelene Hunter. They had two children together, and were divorced in 1987. He then married Karen Trotman in 1993. They were divorced in 2010 and later became companions in his last years.
After leaving the Air Force, Paul returned to ASU to earn an MBA while working in the private sector. He obtained certification as a professional engineer and eventually worked as an engineering project manager. Upon completing his MBA, he and his family relocated to the East Bay area in California where he worked for Bechtel Corporation at its corporate headquarters. In 1977, Bechtel transferred Paul to its Oil, Gas and Chemical office in Houston, TX, where he focused on pipeline engineering projects. In general, his career followed the fortunes of the oil and gas industry, with most of the 80s and 90s spent managing international engineering projects for Bechtel, Aramco, FluorDaniel, FosterWheeler and others. This took him to a number of foreign and sometimes hazardous countries, including Colombia, Brazil, Libya, Saudi Arabia and Norway. Paul never feared these hazards because he made friends with whomever he met along the way. During these assignments, he widely explored and experienced the diverse cultures of much of South America, Europe, and the Middle East.
He had a passion for all things mechanical, first souping up hot rods with his H.S. friends, later riding motorcycles, and ultimately becoming a private pilot. He coached his children's baseball and softball teams in his spare time, and volunteered additional time in philanthropic activities with the Freemasons and Arabia Shriners.
Paul was a kind and thoughtful man, who applied his intelligence and integrity to everything he did. Despite his illness in later years, he remained positive and upbeat to his last day. He is survived by his two children: Mark Barnett of Stafford, TX and Julia Barnett of Phoenix, AZ.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a gift or donation to the American Lung Association, Fisher House Foundation, or another charity of your preference.