Lowell Haines Barnett

1925 - 2017

Lowell Haines Barnett, 92, of Birmingham, Mich., died Thursday, Aug. 10, 2017, at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Mich.

Lowell was born March 16, 1925, in West Point, to Royal and Hilda Klingler Barnett. He married Ruth Anna Weid on July 4, 1946, in Quincy. She preceded him in death on Nov. 24, 2013.

Lowell attended Pleasant Hill School, a one-room school west of West Point. He attributed his lifelong love of learning to that early education. As a teenager, he worked in the family grocery store and sold Avon products. He graduated from West Point High School, a three-year high school in 1940, and then from Bowen High School the following year. He graduated from Gem City Business College in Quincy.

In 1942 he enlisted in the U.S. Army as a private. After basic training, he was selected to attend Manhattan College in New York City to study engineering. In 1943 he was ordered to Europe. Following the Battle of the Bulge, his company was deployed to the Colmar Pocket. He suffered frostbite in the trenches and was hospitalized for six months before being discharged in 1944. The effect of that injury to his feet remained with him the rest of his life. After discharge, he entered the U.S. Army Reserve as a second lieutenant and retired from the Reserve as a lieutenant colonel.

Lowell and Ruth were married while he was attending the University of Illinois.

After receiving a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering, he accepted a position with the Corps of Engineers in Vicksburg, Miss. From 1951 through 1962, he served as deputy chief of the engineering department at Fort Belvoir, Va. In 1963 he began work with the Army Tank Automotive Command in Warren, Mich. He became director of quality product assurance for ATAC, a position that involved the development, production and support of vehicles utilized by active and reserve Army units. His promotion to senior executive service status carried an equivalent protocol ranking to brigadier general.

He received the Legion of Merit for Military Service as a reserve officer, 1943-1977, an award not usually given to reserve officers. He also received the Meritorious Civilian Service Award.

During his government career he attained a master of science degree in industrial engineering from Wayne State University and a master of science degree in management of national resources from George Washington University, and graduated from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.

Lowell was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Birmingham. He was a member of the Quincy Consistory for over 66 years, joining originally at Dill's Masonic Lodge in West Point.

A lifelong student with a wonderful curiosity, Lowell was an avid reader, correspondent and a devoted family man.

He prided himself on making a connection with anyone he met. With a few questions he could establish a connection relating to background, mutual acquaintances or interests.

Lowell enjoyed music, played violin, sang in a quartet in later years, and was a good dancer, delighting in ballroom dancing and whirling the ladies in a fast dance. He and Ruth were members of a square dance club.

His career required that he travel all over the world. After retirement, Lowell and Ruth enjoyed traveling, participating in more than 25 elder hostel trips and several excursions on the Delta Queen and American Queen. Traveling also included many family vacations and cruises. He lost his traveling companion when Ruth was diagnosed with Alzheimer's.

She lived in a nursing facility for 10 years; he spent every afternoon with her until she retired for the night.

He is survived by two sons, Randy (Christine) of Bloomfield Hills, Mich., and Russell (Linda) of Lawrenceburg, Ky.; daughter, Lori Barnett of Bend, Ore.; grandchildren, Michael Turner of Frankfort, Ky., Clayton Barnett and Kyle Barnett of Lawrenceburg; and sister, Sharon L. Barnett of Quincy.

In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Dale S. Barnett.

SERVICES: 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 18, at Hansen-Spear Funeral Home, with the Rev. Larry Wentzel conducting. Burial will follow the service in West Point Cemetery.

VISITATION: 10 to 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 18, at Hansen-Spear Funeral Home.

MEMORIALS: Alzheimer's Association.

ARRANGEMENTS: Hansen-Spear Funeral Home.

WEBSITE: hansenspear.com.

Condolences may be expressed online at whig.com.