Dr. William Barrett

age 92, died January 25, 2009. He was born in Harrison, GA, attended high school and college in Macon, where he received his Masters degree in Chemistry from Mercer University at the young age of 22. He did further graduate work at New York University and obtained a Ph.D. from the University of Florida which he attended with his wife, Marvilyn Tippett, to whom he would remain married for the next 40 years. He worked for the Navy during World War II and received a Distinguished Civilian Award for his work on submarines. He moved to Birmingham, AL in 1950 and was eventually promoted to Director of Research in Applied Science at Southern Research Institute, where he specialized primarily in environmental pollution and the safe disposal of and protection from chemical weapons. He also did important work for NASA and the EPA. He was a member of the Alabama Academy of Science for 53 years, serving as President, Executive Director, and Trustee. He was awarded the Wright Gardner Award from the Academy in 2004 for his accomplishments in the field of science. In addition to his life long career in science, he also enjoyed geology, traveling, photography, and fishing. He was a devoted husband and wonderful father. It is a tribute to him that all of his children were always so very proud of him. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Marvilyn Tippett, the mother of his children; Cora S. Barrett, whom he later married; and his sister, Margaret Mathis and half-sister, Joanne Harvey. He is survived by his four children, Jo Lyn Stricklin, Bill Barrett, Lina Barrett, and John Barrett; six grandchildren, Amanda Stricklin, Hardy Barrett, Hannah Barrett, Nathan Barrett, Laura Barrett, and Aaron Barrett; and a brother, Harry Barrett. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, Jan 28, 2009, from 1-2 PM at Currie-Jefferson Funeral Home, Hwy 150, Hoover, AL. Funeral service will follow at 2 PM in the funeral home chapel. Interment will follow at Jefferson Memorial Gardens, South. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Alabama Academy of Science