Barry Mason Preedom

1940 - 2025

Barry Mason Preedom

December 31, 1940 - May 4, 2025

Pawleys Island, South Carolina - Barry Mason Preedom, age 84, passed away peacefully Sunday May 4, 2025 at his Pawleys Island, SC residence.

Born in Stamford, CT, Barry was the son of the late Louis Merle Preedom and Velma Kimball Preedom. In addition to his parents, Barry was preceded in death by his second wife, Marlene E. Preedom; and brother, Thomas Preedom.

Survivors include his children, Bonnie M. Freeman (Ed), Lafayette, CO; Richard L. Preedom (Rene), Pawleys Island, SC; grandchildren, Rachel Freeman (Finn), Bradley Freeman and Teresa Fulton (Colton); Erik Preedom, Jessica Preedom and Mason Preedom (Abbey); great-granddaughter, Evelyn Leona Fulton; sister, Beatrice Breaux (Hayes), Baton Rouge, LA; and first wife, Jean Radka Smith (Johnny), Columbia, SC.

A Physics graduate of Spring Hill College in Mobile, AL, and the University of Tennessee, Barry had a passion for teaching and research in his chosen field of Nuclear Physics, specializing in Intermediate Energy. He was voted a University of South Carolina Distinguished Professor by his students and colleagues, and received multiple National Science Foundation and U.S. Department of Energy grants for his research.

Barry spent many summers working at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico where he enjoyed introducing his family to the beauties of the Rocky Mountains, Desert Southwest, and Native American dwelling sites. His research took him overseas many times including a sabbatical in Europe, where he enjoyed family travels, Alpine skiing, and fine dining especially in the greater Paris region (where he would test both his fluency in French and the quality of local red wines).

He was affectionately known as Grandpa Bucky and FunPapa, because he had a zest for life that was hard to rein in at times. In his younger days, he enjoyed four-wheeling through northern New Mexico and Colorado in his Land Cruiser with the winch on front, chatting it up with truckers on his CB radio via his handle 'Pion'eer. He took his family to every notable rock or fossil hunting place in the Southwest and once had to rent a trailer to haul the precious "finds" back to Columbia SC, along with several cases of Coors Banquet, of course!

After many years of dedicated work teaching and traveling the world for his research and conference presentations, he managed to purchase his dream home on Lake Murray outside of Columbia. A series of boats graced the dock over the years, but everyone's favorite was the pontoon boat, which his young adult children took full advantage of. After retirement, Barry and his second wife, Marlene, settled into a gentle lifestyle, aging peacefully while contemplating the lake as the seasons changed. Barry moved to Pawleys Island, SC after Marlene's passing and lived out the rest of his days in the loving care and comfort of his son and daughter-in-law, Richard and Rene.

In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made in Barry's name to The Nature Conservancy, Riverbanks Zoo and Garden in Columbia, SC, or the charity of your choice.