Elton P. Barnett

Elton P. (Barney) Barnett passed away May 7, 2012 at his home in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA. He was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on May 26, 1921. He grew up in nearby Denham Springs and was a member of large family- 3 brothers, 4 grandparents, 19 uncles and aunts and 40 first cousins. Barney was valedictorian of the Denham Springs High School class of 1938. He attended Louisiana State University and graduated with honors in Chemical Engineering in January, 1943. Shortly thereafter, he entered the Navy as an Ensign and served at several submarine bases in the U.S. Later he was assigned to a submarine tender in the Pacific Theater. His ship was in the first Naval Task Force entering Japan following World War II. He married Carol Bodie in 1944 and they had 3 children and were married for almost 50 years until her death in 1994. After discharge from the Navy, he began work with the Union Oil Company and had a distinguished career with them until his retirement in 1986. For the last 15 years with Union Oil, he was Vice President of Refining, Pipelines and Shipping and Crude Supply for the West Coast. His extensive business and personal travels took him to all 50 states, most of Europe, the Far East, Australia and New Zealand. After the death of his first wife, Carol, he subsequently married Eloise (Sandy) Goodhew. Both Barney and Sandy are longtime residents of Palos Verdes. He is survived by Sandy, his three children Denise, Mark (Linda), and Adrienne, his brother Hal (Carole), 4 grandsons, Jasen Nielsen (Jackie), David and James Barnett, and Eric Trover, and numerous other family members including cousins, nieces and nephews, and Sandy's children and grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents and two of his younger brothers, Lloyd and Bert. His principal hobby was golf and he was a member of the Palos Verdes Golf Club for over 35 years. He also enjoyed watching sports, reading and playing card games with friends and family. He loved God, his wife and family and his country. Barney was an active member of the Palos Verdes Neighborhood Church since 1954 and in 1977 he was awarded that church's highest honor, the Lifetime Achievement Award. The family expresses its deep appreciation to Barney's caretakers Ariel, Francis and Fernan. Private interment service held at Green Hills Mortuary and a public memorial service held on Wednesday, May 16th at 11 a.m. at the Neighborhood Church, Palos Verdes Estates. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Barney Barnett Memorial Fund, Neighborhood Church, 415 Paseo del Mar, Palos Verdes Estates, CA 90274 or to a charity of your choice.

Funeral Home:
Green Hills Mortuary and Memorial Chapel
27501 S.Western Ave.
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
US 90275