Patrick V. "Pat" Barron

FALMOUTH —Retired Col. Patrick V. "Pat" Barron, resident of Falmouth, and formerly of Mashpee and Alexandria, Va., passed away peacefully in his sleep on Monday, June 15, 2009, in his home at Heritage of Falmouth.

Born in Placentia, Newfoundland on Sept. 1, 1918, Pat was one of ten children of William and Bridget (Byrne) Barron. He grew up in South Boston where his family had moved in 1923.

Pat was a career Army officer, retiring from the Army Corps of Engineers in 1971. He held a bachelor's degree in military science from Northeastern University and a master's degree in education from the University of Maryland.

After graduating from South Boston High School, he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps and worked on numerous civil construction projects in Camden, N.H., where he met and, in 1939, married his first wife, Alma M. Landry.

In 1941, his eldest daughter Patricia Ann was born. In 1943, he was ordered into active duty from the Army Reserves to serve in World War II. While training for overseas deployment, his first wife died from health complications. When he shipped overseas, he saw combat action as an infantry platoon leader in the Philippines, and was part of the Army of Occupation in Japan at the close of the war. During that period, he was selected for and completed Officer Candidate School.

Following World War II, he worked for Bethlehem Steel until 1951 when he was recalled to active duty for the Korean War, where he served as an engineer company commander in combat operations. After the war, he was assigned to the Office of the Chief of Engineers in Arlington, Va., where he met and, in 1955, married his second wife, Alma G. Chalmers.

In 1956 his eldest son, John Patrick, was born. Shortly thereafter, Pat was reassigned to Germany with his young family. There he served as a project manager for various military construction projects, first in Giessen, and then Frankfurt, where his second son David Michael "Mike" was born in 1958. In 1960, he returned with his family to Framingham where he began his duty as assistant professor of military engineering at Northeastern University. In 1961 his second daughter, Elizabeth Ann, was born.

Then in 1963, he left his family behind for an unaccompanied tour to Korea as an executive officer for a combat construction battalion. Upon returning in 1964, he was reassigned with his family to Fort Belvoir, Va., as a program manager for Combat Developments Command. In 1966, he began a two-year tour with his family as construction officer to the Joint U.S. Military Advisor Group in the Philippines.

After settling his family in Alexandria, Va., in 1968, he began a one-year tour in Vietnam, serving as deputy engineer for construction operations in Saigon and Danang. When he returned from Vietnam, his final assignment was with the Army Corps of Engineers as deputy inspector general to the Office of the Chief of Engineers in Washington, D.C. His many service awards and citations include the Army Commendation Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Bronze Star Medal (two awards) and the Legion of Merit medal.

After he retired from the Army, Pat was construction project manager for The Board of Education in Prince William County, Virginia, where he managed construction of three high schools and several middle and elementary schools for the county until he retired in 1983.

An avid golfer, woodworker and reader, Pat enjoyed his retirement in New Seabury on Cape Cod, where he was able to enjoy his family, friends and hobbies. He was a master craftsman, and built many beautiful pieces of furniture in his fully-equipped basement woodworking shop. Family and friends from coast to coast hold dear their Pat Barron originals.

Pat was a lifetime member of the Society of American Military Engineers. He was also active in the Men's Club of New Seabury where he served a term as president.

Pat was predeceased by his first wife, Alma Landry Barron, and his wife of 53 years (who passed on Nov. 23, 2008), Alma Chalmers Barron.

Pat is survived by four children, Patricia Barron Lynch Smith of Tewksbury, John P. Barron and his wife Pamela O. Barron of Fairfax Station, Va., D. Michael Barron and his partner Jose M. Lopez of Los Angeles, and Elizabeth A. Barron of Waterville, Maine; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

He is also survived by a sister, Catherine Walsh of Quincy; brothers Martin of Wilmington, N.C., Aloysious of Englewood, Fla., Joseph of Carmel, Calif., and Leo of Middleboro; brother-in-law J. William Clark Sr. of Mashpee; sister-in-law Carol Chiacchia of Litchfield, N.H.; and numerous dearly loved nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a sister, Sister Gertrude, SND; and brothers Michael, William and Thomas.

Visiting hours will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. Monday, June 22, in the Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, 74 Algonquin Ave., at Route 151, Mashpee. A funeral will form at 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 23, in the funeral home, followed by a funeral Mass at 11 a.m. in Christ the King Parish, 3 Job's Fishing Road, Mashpee. Interment will be held at 12:30 p.m. in the Massachusetts National Cemetery, Connery Avenue, Bourne.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Men's Club of New Seabury Educational Fund, P.O. Box 1093, Mashpee, MA 02649.

For online guest book, obituary and directions, please visit www.ccgfuneralhome.com.