Elizabeth "Betty" Barrett

Elizabeth "Betty" Barrett passed away on December 27, 2025 at Norfolk General Hospital, at the age of 105. Betty was born Elizabeth Ann Mugan on December 1, 1920, in Cleveland, Ohio, the 4th of 6 children born to Bertha Michelet Mugan and Daniel Bernard Mugan.
The family moved to New Orleans (Bertha's home town) for several years, but later settled in East Orange, NJ.
Betty was given a scholarship to attend St. Vincent's Academy, where she was editor of the yearbook in her senior year.
She worked as a clerk at the Prudential Insurance o ce in Newark, NJ. In 1942, within a few months of Pearl Harbor, she enlisted in the WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service). She was selected for the Link Instrument Trainer Instructors School. After graduating in 1943, she was sent to Jacksonville, Florida, where she helped train pilots on the Link Trainer airplane simulator. She met Raymond Barrett, one of the pilots in training. They dated, and then married in July 1944, at the St. Edward's Chapel on the base. After a weekend honeymoon, Ray headed for the Paci c.
After the war, Betty and Ray started a family back in New Jersey. But, then, when the Korean War broke out, Ray's squadron was recalled to active duty. Ray was assigned to Pensacola as a ight instructor. Betty was able to join him for two years, with the four children. After returning again to NJ, the family continued to grow.
They raised 8 children, with Ray running his own home building business. Betty did the book-keeping and payroll for the business, while raising the growing family. She later attended night school at Rutgers University for a degree in social work.
When Betty and Ray relocated to Virginia Beach in the 1970s, they built and ran a racquetball club, and Betty worked as a social worker in Norfolk. They both loved Virginia Beach, and developed many enduring friendships over the decades. Ray passed away in February, 2009.
Betty was active in the Unitarian church starting in the 1960s. She and Ray were also active in the peace movement and the cause of civil rights. They also loved to travel, and, most of all, living at the beach. Betty was also a generous contributor to the Save the Children Foundation, and enjoyed corresponding with many of the children they supported.
Betty is survived by her 3 sons, Michael James Barrett of Virginia Beach, and Peter Daniel Barrett and Mark Raymond Barrett, both of New Jersey. Also, ve daughters, Kathleen Latham of Greensboro, NC, Sara Noren and June McDaniels of Virginia Beach, Lisa Beck of Blacksburg, Virginia, and Maureen Barrett-Rivkin of Evergreen, Colorado. Also, 15 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held at 10 am on January 17, 2026 at Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home, Great Neck Chapel in Virginia Beach, with a reception to follow at the Lesner Inn, 3319 Shore Drive, Virginia Beach. A military memorial will be held at a later date, where Betty's ashes will be placed in her forever resting place along with Ray, where he awaits her at the Horton Veteran's Cemetery in Su olk, Virginia.