Jack Edward Barth

1919 - 2010

November 17, 1919 - October 10, 2010
Jack Edward Barth passed away on October 10, 2010 with his family by his side in Torrance, California of complications from a series of strokes sustained over the past six years. Jack, a sixty-year Palos Verdes Estates resident, was born in Denver, Colorado and attended Colorado schools. He graduated from North High School in Denver. Jack studied engineering at Colorado State University before transferring to the University of Colorado (CU), graduating in mechanical engineering with an emphasis in aeronautics. Jack often recounted that he switched colleges due to CU's aeronautics curriculum after he learned that an engineering graduate could find a career designing aircraft. Jack began his forty-year aeronautical engineering career with Boeing Aircraft in Seattle. Jack left Boeing in 1941 because he wanted to be closer to family with the imminent onset of World War II. Jack tendered his resignation in Seattle before climbing aboard his Harley for the twelve hundred mile ride to Los Angeles where he quickly found work in the emerging Southern California aircraft industry with Douglas Aircraft. Jack worked on numerous military and commercial aircraft for Douglas (later McDonnell-Douglas) and briefly with Northrop Aircraft. Jack's favorite aircraft project was the delta-winged A-4 Skyhawk. Jack's activities over the years included photography, books, woodworking, small aircraft, motorcycles, cars, jazz music, history, skiing, square dancing and golf. Jack was a longtime member of the Palos Verdes Breakfast Club and founding member of the "Wild Bunch". Jack married the love of his life, Pauline Louise Swarts, in 1947 and the couple enjoyed over 63 years of marriage. Jack was preceded in death by both parents and two older brothers. Surviving family members include his wife, Pauline; daughter, Sydney (Ron) Jamieson of Palm Desert, CA; sons, John (Maggie) Barth of Palisade, CO, Peter Barth of Montrose, CO; five grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and many nephews, nieces and their families. A memorial service to remember and celebrate Jack's life is planned for 11:00 a.m., November 22, 2010 at the Neighborhood Church in PVE. In lieu of flowers, the family requests consideration of donations in Jack's memory to the American Stroke Association where a memorial page has been established - http://tiny.cc/01ziz. Please sign the guestbook at www.dailybreeze.com/obits.