H. Harold Barnett

1918 - 2014

H. Harold Barnett of West Chester H. Harold Barnett passed away on Sunday, June 15, 2014, Father's Day, one day before his 96th birthday. By his side was his wife of 66 years, Jean, and his four daughters. The previous day, his wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, along with his two nephews and their wives and some neighbors, were able to gather with him to celebrate his birthday. Just hours before he passed he was able to meet his newest great-granddaughter, Seraphina, born 2 days previously in Chester County Hospital. Harold Barnett was known to family, friends, associates and peers as a wonderful husband, father, educator, historian, speaker, artist, musician and linguist. He was a friend to all whom he met and never hesitated to lend a helping hand to those in need. He was a brilliant conversationalist and used his many talents to contribute to educational, historical, community and volunteer projects throughout his lifetime. Harold was born on June 16, 1918 in rural Dilworthtown, Pa., to Herman A. and Mabel R. Barnett. He and his older brother, Charlie, walked half a mile to attend a one-room school, where grades 1 to 8 were taught in the same room with the same teacher. For second grade, he rode a bus to Chadds Ford Consolidated School (CFCS) when the one-room schoolhouse was closed. He attended CFCS for grades 2 - 10, where he excelled in all his studies, but most notably showed great talent in art, language and history. At CFCS he helped create and perform a travelling stage show consisting of over 30 marionettes and 5 puppeteers; this travelling show performed throughout Chester County and won first prize in a Philadelphia Hobby show. In 1934, his family moved to West Chester and he attended West Chester High School, where he graduated with the class of 1936. The ceremony was at Phillips Memorial Auditorium and Harold was one of the 6 honor speakers. After high school Harold attended Berlitz School of Languages for the study of advanced French and Academy of Modern Languages for the study of Spanish (both institutions in Philadelphia) to become fluent in reading, writing and speaking of both languages. This love of languages continued throughout his lifetime and he was able to use this talent in his travels and throughout his various volunteer positions. Harold began his advertising career in 1938 as the display manager at Mosteller's, which was West Chester's largest in-town department store. He enjoyed using his artistic talents in adorning the 24 store windows and interior floor displays, and consequently won national competitions for his window presentations. Harold loved learning and cultivating his artistic talents and in 1939-40 studied oil painting with the Belgian artist, Franz de Merlier, in Birmingham, Pa. Along with his love of music, he studied classical guitar and enjoyed playing many instruments throughout his life. Harold had a wonderful singing voice and was asked to perform solos in church and at community events. He was an Opera enthusiast and enjoyed seeing some of the great performers with the Metropolitan Opera. Between 1944 and 1946, Harold was on active Duty with the U.S. Navy, and served as a radio operator and assistant signalman on a U.S. Mine Sweeper in the North Atlantic and Pacific passages. He also served as a translator of Spanish while on ship in Cuba, Panama, Nicaragua and Mexico. Harold was discharged in 1946 with Honor as a 2nd Class Petty Officer. Harold then returned to West Chester and to his job at Mosteller's, and met his future bride, Jean Boswell, who was from Liverpool, England. They were married in 1948 and in 1949 moved into their first home in Chatwood. While working full-time, Harold continued his education by attending evening courses at the Charles Morris Price School of Advertising in Philadelphia, where he received an award as the student having the highest scholastic standing in the course. In 1955, Harold and Jean started their family with the birth of their daughter, Barbara. They had three more daughters: in 1956 (Brenda), 1959 (Bonnie) and 1960 (Bronwen). Throughout the 1950's and 1960's, Harold was active in many community projects including designing stage scenery for the Miss Pennsylvania Pageant and the Forty Niners Chorus; stage setting and dance decors for local clubs and functions; and the design and construction of floats for Chester County parades. He was active in the Baptist Church of West Chester, where he served on many boards; he was a deacon, Sunday School Superintendent and sang in the church choir. He designed and did special artwork for publications for the American Baptist Center in Valley Forge. He served as program chairman for both the French and Spanish Clubs in West Chester, and was a charter member of the Chester County Advertising Club. As a member of the Baptist Men's Fellowship, he made audio tapes of books and newspaper articles for the blind of Chester County. He also taught English to non-English speaking immigrants through the Chester County library. Harold was also a member for 73 years of the West Chester Lodge #322 of the Free & Accepted Masons. Harold continued his career at Mosteller's, where he served as Advertising Manager until the store closed its doors in 1978. Harold was then asked to join the Art Department at the Daily Local News, designing the advertising for the daily newspaper, enjoying his work there until he retired in 1987. In his sixties, Harold bought a motorcycle and began touring the back roads of Chester County, relishing every trip along the countryside and along banks of the Brandywine. He continued driving his motorcycle for 8 years, and even at the age of 87, enjoyed being a passenger on the back of a Harley-Davidson while visiting out in Arizona. While Harold was a community volunteer throughout his life, he concentrated his time after retirement on one of his greatest passions: the history of the Battle of the Brandywine. In 1997, Harold was awarded the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission Volunteer of the Year Award for his then 10 year service to the Brandywine Battlefield Park in Chadds Ford, Pa., where he devoted thousands of hours of time. There he created and conducted driving tours of the battlefield, lectured on the battle to many civic and fraternal organizations, created and performed a puppet show for younger children, and created class programs for Chester County schools. Harold also dressed in Colonial costume and performed in many re-enactments. The highlight of his time at the park was escorting the descendants of both the Generals Lafayette and Rochambeau around the Brandywine Battlefield while speaking fluent French. In 1998, he was profiled in the Philadelphia Inquirer's Sunday magazine in a full page article about his expertise in the history of the Battle. He is survived by his wife, Jean Boswell Barnett; his daughters, Barbara Hankel (Tom) of Exton, Brenda Jackson (Bob) of Landenberg, Bonnie Lazzeri of Scottsdale, Ariz. and Bronwen Barnett of Phoenix, Ariz.: eight grandchildren, Robert F. Jackson III (Nicole), Rebecca Duswalt (Evan), Brinton Jackson (Mary), Lauren Hankel, Andrew Lazzeri, Meredith Jackson, Danny Lazzeri, Kelly Hankel and Audrey Lazzeri; and four great-grandchildren, Skylar Corcoran, Emma Jackson, Kylee Jackson and Seraphina Duswalt. He was predeceased by his brother, J. Charles Barnett. Services and interment will be private. Arrangements are being made by the Founds Funeral Home of West Chester. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the H. Harold Barnett Legacy Fund at any Wells Fargo Bank branch, or by mail to Wells Fargo, 949 S. High Street, West Chester PA, 19382. These funds will be used to provide a legacy project in Harold's name to promote and preserve the history of his beloved Chester County.