William Barrett Hanley Jr., age 79, of Mobile, Alabama passed away on Friday, November 23, 2018. Barrett was born August 25, 1939 in Mobile, Alabama to Mary Catherine Lee Hanley and William Barrett Hanley, Sr. Graduated from Mc Gill Institute in 1957, Graduated from Auburn University in 1961 with a BS in Aeronautical Engineering.
Married the love of his life and High School Sweetheart Rebecca Blue (Becky) in 1958.
Served as a commissioned officer in US Air Force after College. Following Military Service, he joined Lockheed Aircraft Corp in Marietta Ga. At Lockheed, he became an Engineering Test Pilot, fulfilling a lifelong dream. His duties as a Test Pilot took him to many locations in the U.S. and abroad.
During his tenure at Lockheed, he became qualified to fly the C-5A, the C-130, the C-141, Transports and the P-3, Patrol Plane. He participated in all facets of Test Flying, Experimental, Engineering, Production Testing and Post Maintenance Testing. He held an Airline Transport Rating, FAA, and a USAF Experimental Pilot Rating. Barrett was a Major in the Civil Air Patrol and Deputy wing Commander for the Georgia Wing, Becky as a volunteer “Warrant”, served right along his side as Wing Information Officer. Along the way, he became an FAA Designated Engineering Representative (Structures). Along with Becky, two sons Chief Warrant Officer Michael Hanley US Army, of Orange Park, FI and Colonel Thomas W Hanley US Army of Fort Polk, La., survive him.
Barrett is survived by his wife of 61 years, Becky Hanley; children, Mike Hanley and Tommy (Damaris) Hanley; grandchildren, Michael (Hillary) Burns, Daniel (Michelle) Hanley, Meghan Burns, Felicia Hanley, Katey Hanley, and Chelsea Hanley; and great-grandchildren, Christian, Matthew, and Allison Hanley.
Barrett was preceded in death by his parents, William Barrett Hanley, Sr. and Mary Catherine Lee Hanley; sister, Mary Lee Hanley Mason; and granddaughter, Courtney Hanley.
A visitation for Barrett will be held Tuesday, November 27, 2018 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, 2 S Claiborne St, Mobile, Alabama 36602. A mass of christian burial will occur Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. at the church. Interment will follow at Catholic Cemetery, 1700 Dr. Martin Luther King Drive, Mobile, Alabama 36617.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.radneyfuneralhome-mobile.com for the Hanley family.
