Mr. Frederick Earl Barnett

Frederick Earl Barnett, known to all as Fred, quietly left us on Saturday, July 29, 2017, just days after his 86th birthday. He was born in South Boston, Virginia to Campbell Frederick Barnett and Edna Bland Barnett and met and married his wife of 62 years, Karen Meyer Barnett who predeceased him, when he was stationed in Colorado serving our country with the U.S. Air Force. Fred is survived by his three children, Cheryl Barnett Whitley (George Whitley) of Richmond, VA, Campbell Frederick Barnett of Mt. Airy, NC, and Lise Kay Barnett of Charlotte, NC, his two beautiful granddaughters who brought him great joy and were the very light of his life, Parke Minton Whitley (Gaga's "Chipmunk") of Washington, DC, and Cassandra Gayle Barnett (Papa's "Birdie") of Mt. Airy, NC, and his two sisters, Delora Barnett Staples of Lynchburg, VA, and Cynthia Barnett Welcher of South Boston, VA. He is also survived by his daughter-in-law, Sandra Gayle Barnett, whom he loved deeply and whose love was returned many times over. Fred’s passion in life was flying and, when he wasn’t flying, he was thinking and talking about flying. After completing his tour of duty with the U.S. Air Force, Fred moved back to Danville, VA to raise his family and fly for the Leggett Department Store chain until his retirement. Fred was profoundly grateful to the Leggett family for their abiding friendship and the opportunity they gave him to pursue his life’s passion, which he passed to his son, Cam, who learned to fly sitting in Fred’s lap and proudly followed in his father's footsteps to make his love of flying a life-long career. When Fred wasn’t flying or cooking his much beloved soups or passing out candy to all takers, he was a master “Mr. Fix-it” and no task was too large or too complicated for him to solve. Being the devoted family man, Fred and Karen moved to their adopted home of Mt. Airy following his retirement. Fred would tell you the real reason for the move was to be close by to enjoy watching his granddaughter, Casey Barnett, grow and mature into the exceptional young lady she has become. Fred, Buddy, Gaga, Papa, wheels up and Godspeed on your flight to the heavens above. We will miss you and love you forever. The family wants to extend a special thanks to his loving and attentive caregiver, Sherry Carlyle, the Button and Higgs families for their love and support, the Home Health Care Team at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Kernersville, NC, for their care and encouragement, and the Mountain Valley Hospice & Palliative Care for their gentle care. The family also wants to extend a special thanks to First Presbyterian Church in Mt. Airy for their friendship and support. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 6, 2017 at First Presbyterian Church, Mt. Airy, NC, with a reception at the Church following the service. In honor of Fred’s life-long dedication to aviation, and weather permitting, there will be a flyover of vintage World War II era Boeing-Stearman PT-17 biplanes immediately before the service. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Fred’s memory to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS, 66675; First Presbyterian Church, 326 S. Main St. Mt. Airy, NC 27030; or to Mountain Valley Hospice & Palliative Care, 401 Technology Lane, Suite 200, Mount Airy, NC 27030.

Reception

Memorial Service