John Louis Bartlett was born February 25, 1929 in Kingsville Texas to Marvin Bartlett and Erna Grace (Hazlip) Bartlett. He spent his childhood in south Texas and attended Texas A&I University in Kingsville where he majored in natural gas engineering. His beloved institution of higher learning eventually merged with the Texas A&M system to become TAMU at Kingsville, but Dad staunchly refused to call his alma mater and mascot anything but the Fighting Javelinas of Texas A & I University. During his time in college he was a reporter for The South Texan, a student newspaper, and a four-year member of the Engineers club. He was also a member of the Natural Gas Engineers Association and was recognized as the highest academically ranked engineering student in the college during his senior year.
After college he took a job in Cleveland, Ohio with the American Gas Association. His time there was cut short by the Korean war and a draft notice that sent him to join the Army. He was then stationed in Germany from 1950 to 1952. While no one can say they enjoyed serving during wartime, he definitely enjoyed his time in Germany and loved to reminisce about his time in the country.
After the war he returned to South Texas and took a job as one of the first employees at a start-up engineering service company, working for FESCO, LTD. He went on to continue his employment with FESCO for the rest of his career where he worked as staff engineer, petroleum engineer, district manager and finally VP in charge of engineering. He was honored by his employer with an endowed scholarship fund in his name at Texas A&I University (even though it says Texas A&M-Kingsville!) in recognition of 38 years of service with FESCO.
John married Inez Ruth Krause Sept. 7, 1958 at Immanuel Lutheran church in Alice, Tx. They had three children, David, Steven and Elizabeth.
Dad loved history and spent many hours reading and studying military history, aviation history and the history of South Texas. He was also interested in ham radios and spent many hours building and collecting radios.
In 2001, John and Ruth finally built their dream home and moved to Calallen, TX, but remained active members of Immanuel Lutheran.
In 2016 they moved to Austin, Tx to be closer to their three children.
He is survived by his wife, Ruth Bartlett, his sons David, Steven, his daughter Elizabeth and son in law Kelly Tjelmeland, grandchildren, Ellie Barker, Jenna, Kirsten and Brooke Tjelmeland, his nephews Rocky Kneten, Terry Kneten. Dan Strong, Marvin Strong and niece Cathy Blind.
He will be laid to rest in Vernon, Texas.
