Uron Reed Barnett, Jr.'s Obituary
Uron Reed Barnett, Jr., age 92, of Melbourne Beach, passed away peacefully on November 24, 2017. Reed was born in St. Petersburg, FL but grew up in Brooksville, graduating from Hernando High School. After graduation, he was accepted into the Navy’s WWII V-12 program, which was designed to give prospective naval officers the benefits of a college education in those areas most needed by the Navy. As Navy V-12 student, he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical engineering at Georgia Tech.
In the early years of the space industry his work took him to Fort Worth, Langley Field in Hampton, Virginia, and the Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. In Huntsville, he was part of Werner von Braun’s team which converted captured German WWII V-1 and V-2 missiles into the Army’s first ballistic missile. This was named the Redstone missile and was later used for the nation’s first manned space flights. He was proud of having personally launched the first successful Redstone missile. His career included work at N.A.C.A., Radiation, later Harris Corporation and NASA. During his years at NASA he worked on the Apollo program and Skylab, primarily in remote sensing and earth resources.
A devoted husband and father, he enjoyed sharing his love of the outdoors and Florida’s natural beauty with his family. He loved hiking, camping, boating Florida’s rivers, and exploring the winding back roads of the NC mountains. Crafting a cabin in the Smoky Mountains was a labor of love, as was any form of gardening.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 69 years, Dorothy ‘Dot’ Mills Barnett. He is survived by daughters, Beverly Ann Barnett, Mary ‘Libby’ Barnett Genton (Larry), Frances Elaine Barnett; son, Michael Reed Barnett, and grandson, Dustin Lawrence Genton (Christine).
A Memorial Service will be held Thursday, December 7, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Paul’s Methodist Church in Melbourne, with visitation one hour prior, beginning at 10:00 a.m. Graveside Services will be held Friday, December 8, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. in Brooksville Cemetery in Brooksville, FL.
What’s your fondest memory of Uron?
What’s a lesson you learned from Uron?
Share a story where Uron's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Uron you’ll never forget.
How did Uron make you smile?