Bill was born on February 19, 1928, in Macon, GA. He was the eldest son of John William Barnett and May Billings Barnett. He is preceded in death by his parents and his younger brother, Thomas Billings Barnett.
Bill attended public schools in Macon and was a member of Troop 5 BSA. He earned the rank of Eagle Scout, one of many significant achievements in his life. He graduated from Lanier High School for Boys in 1946 and attended the Virginia Military Institute for 1 year.
Upon receiving an appointment from Senator Richard Russell, Bill entered the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, NY graduating in 1951. At that time, the U.S. Army Air Corps had been reconstituted as the U.S. Air Force and made a separate arm of our national armed forces. The Air Force Academy was under construction in Colorado but did not produce graduates for several years. An invitation was extended to West Point graduates to join the new U.S. Air Force and Bill accepted a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant.
Following training as a fighter pilot, Bill was assigned to the 49th Fighter Group based in Kunsan, South Korea. He flew 75 combat missions in F-84’s in support of the United Nations ground forces. These missions ranged from the front lines north to the Yalu River bridges connecting North Korea to China. He received the Air Medal with clusters and the Distinguished Flying Cross. At the cessation of active hostilities, the 49th was transferred to Japan with Bill’s 8th Squadron based in Misawa on the northern tip of Honshu. The unit was given the extremely interesting assignment of developing the technique for low altitude delivery of an atomic weapon by fighter aircraft to Russia.
Upon returning to the U.S. in 1955, Bill was assigned to the 27th Strategic Fighter Wing based in Austin, TX. It was during this time that the most momentous event of Bill’s life occurred. On March 5, 1955, he married Ruth Norton Farmer of Macon, GA. They joyously celebrated their 69th Anniversary on March 5, 2024.
Bill was accepted to the Harvard Business School and resigned from the U.S. Air Force. It was a happy time for 2 newlyweds with Ruth teaching school and Bill flying F-80’s in the Air Force Reserve while concentrating on a tough academic curriculum. Upon graduation, Bill elected to return to the South and went to work at West Point Pepperill and subsequently returned to Macon to work at Fickling & Walker. During this time, they began their family and Ruth gave birth to Bill, Jr., Carolyn, Hall and Mary.
After 8 years in Macon, Bill accepted a position as Vice President for Real Estate and Expansion with Roses Store, Inc., headquartered in Henderson, NC. He moved there in 1967 with family and remained with Roses until 1972.
During that period, he was closely associated with Lucius Harvin, the president of Roses, and with Lucius Harvin, Jr., both of whom he greatly admired. He became active in the First Presbyterian Church and served as Elder and Deacon. He also served in significant roles including Chairman of the Pastor Search Committee, and Chairman of the committee which raised funds for major repairs and built the columbarium. He was an active member and served as President of the Henderson Country Club. He was a member of the Board of the Perry Library, serving during a period of expansion and relocation. He also served on the Board of Vance-Granville Community College.
In 1972, Bill resigned his position with Roses to form Barnett Real Properties, a shopping center development company in partnership with Cousins Properties from Atlanta. This company has continued to operate successfully and following Bill’s gradual retirement is now managed by Hall Barnett and long-time employees, Deborah Edwards, Charles Kane, Pat Hodge and retired colleague, Robert Fleming.
Bill remained quite active. He was an original organizer and later Chairman of the Board of Glenaire, a Presbyterian CCRC in Cary. As a volunteer, he served the North Carolina Museum of Art on various boards and committees for 19 years. He was a strong supporter of the Carolina Ballet, being a member of the board 1 year after its beginning. He and his wife were also strong supporters of the North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem. He was a member of the Carolina Country Club and the Coral Bay Club in Atlantic Beach.
Bill enjoyed extensive travel with his wife, summers at Atlantic Beach, and time in their Raleigh home. His interests included ACC sports, golf and tennis, sailing his Sabre sailboat named “Ruthie B”, and flying his Beechcraft Baron until age 83. He loved to keep up with friends made during the various phases of his life. He would remark that he had lived seven lives – childhood in Macon, Virginia Military Institute, West Point, the Air Force, Harvard, Henderson and Raleigh. He had friends from all phases and rarely missed a reunion.
Regardless of how many responsibilities Bill chose to accept, he placed family above them all. He was devoted to his wife and their 4 children. His impact is clearly evident in their lives and those of his 10 grandchildren.
Bill is survived by his wife, Ruth, their 4 children, William Thomas Barnett, Jr. and wife, Betsy, of Raleigh; Carolyn Barnett Brady and husband, Doug, of Beaufort; Hall Farmer Barnett and wife, Baba, of Raleigh; and Mary Barnett Hale and husband, Scott, of Greensboro. He is also survived by 10 grandchildren; William Thomas Barnett, III and wife, Beth; Rachel Barnett Maples and husband, Hayden; Ann Barnett Cousins and husband, Dave; W. Douglas Brady, Jr. and wife, Allie; Ruth Barnett Brady; Nina Lynde Barnett, Charles Hall Barnett, James Scott Hale, Jr., Thomas Barnett Hale, and Carolyn Ruth Hale, and as of this writing, 3 great grandchildren, Ann Hanley Barnett, Walter Douglas Brady, III, and Hayden Carter Maples, Jr.
A private family Service of Witness to the Resurrection will be conducted on August 1, 2024, at White Memorial Presbyterian Church, Raleigh, NC. Friends are invited to gather afterwards from 12:00pm to 2:00pm at Carolina Country Club, Raleigh, NC.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to White Memorial Presbyterian Church, 1704 Oberlin Road, Raleigh, NC 27608 or First Presbyterian Church, P. O. Box 726, Henderson, NC 27536.
Arrangements by Brown-Wynne, 300 Saint Mary's Street, Raleigh.
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