Robert Lewis Barrett, 76, died Monday, April 28, 2014. He was born on May 10, 1937 in Gaston County to the late Lewis and Eva Absher Barrett. The family moved to Homestead, Fla in 1946. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church where he was honored to serve as a Deacon and an Elder. He graduated from South Dade High School class of 1955. Robert served in the United States Army from August 1955 to May 1958 as a paratrooper with 101 Airborne Division Screaming Eagles at Fort Campbell, KY. He was also in the 187 Airborne Combat Team, Special Operations, Red Berets, and Airborne Paymaster in Morocco, Algeria, Sinai, and Seoul, Korea. He was in the Army Reserves for 8 years when he was called for active duty during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Robert was also a life time member of the VFW and the American Legion. He owned Barrett Construction and was a certified general contractor and site engineer. He worked in Alaska after the earthquake, rebuilding villages on Kodiak Island. While in Alaska, he also worked as a commercial fisherman. He was a Building Director in Florida City for many years. Robert was a published author, loved his family, and always wanted to be of service to others.
Robert is survived by his wife of more than 57 years, Polly Beam Barrett; daughter, Barbara Rubens and husband, Gary; granddaughter, Helena Krotenburg; great-grandson, Seth Aaron Krotenburg; brother, Adkin “Tuck” Barrett; and numerous aunts, nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, May 7, 2014 at 12:00 PM at Carpenter’s Funeral & Cremation Services with Rev. Wayne Key officiating. Burial will follow in City Memorial Cemetery. Military Honors will be conducted by Cherryville American Legion Post #100 Honor Guard. The family will receive friends on Wednesday from 11:00 to 11:45 AM prior to the service at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to, Kings Mountain VFW Post 9811, 3800 Margrace Road, Kings Mountain, NC 28086 or to Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 112 Mt. Zion Church Road, Cherryville, NC 28021.
