Van Barnette

Van was born September 16, 1922 in Middletown, Ohio.  He was one of ten children born to John Hamilton and Smashie Lee Barnette.  Van passed away peacefully on Wednesday June, 2, 2021 at the age of 98.  He was preceded in death by his wife, Eula, sisters Evelyn, Augusta, Ruth, Edith, “Baby Sister”, and brothers Herman, Marvin, and Donald.  He was a member of Saint Margaret’s Episcopal Church, Dayton, Ohio and the Church of the Ascension, Middletown, Ohio. 
He received his early education in the Middletown Public School system, graduating from Middletown High School in 1939. He attended the University of Dayton, Ohio 1950; the Air Force Institute of Technology, 1969; the Naval Post Graduate School, Monterey, California 1970.  He served 3 years in the U.S. Navy and is a World War II Veteran.
He retired from Wright Patterson Air Force Base after 38 years of service, as a Logistics Management Officer.
He became a member of the Prince Hall Masonic Family, January 18, 1951, Tried Stone Lodge #83, F. & A.M., Middletown, Ohio. He was crowned a 33° Mason in 1971, a member of American Temple #107, Dayton, Ohio (Shrine).
Van was an excellent orator.  He is well known throughout the District and State for his impressive lecturing within several degrees and in the past distinguished himself by delivering an outstanding dissertation on the letter “G” before the Grand Lodge of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania which was recorded and placed in the archives of that august body.
He volunteered his time and talents to the Habitat for Humanity, the Salvation Army, the Miami Valley Computer Association, the Greater Middletown Area Safety Council, as Past President of Taft School Parent Teachers Association, the Middletown Clean Community Inc., the Society of Logistics Engineers, the Kittyhawk Toastmasters, the Toastmasters International, the STM Chapter of Statistical Quality Control and the Wright Brothers Chapter of the Armed Forces Management Association.
Van leaves to cherish his memory his three children, son Duane R. Barnette (Cynthia), daughter Shelley J. Barnette-Steele (Philip), daughter Karla J. Barnette, three grandchildren, Tiffany, Lindsey and Philip, Jr. (Keneisha), three great-grandchildren, Rhianna, Rhylie, Maverik and a host of relatives and friends.

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