Barnett, Billy Dillard, 88, retired oil company accountant, died Friday. Services pending. Bixby Funeral Service, Bixby. (Tulsa World)
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Billy Dillard Barnett, age 88, passed away on January 13, 2012. He was born August 28, 1923 in Santa Fe, Oklahoma to Oscar Chesterfield Barnett and Leah Essie Montgomery Barnett. At an early age his family moved to the Earlsboro, Oklahoma area. He attended Prairie View School participating in various sports and was the school's drum major. As a high school senior, he played tenor saxophone in "Nona Estes' and her Orchestra" dance band. He graduated from Prairie View and then attended the University of Oklahoma for 1 year majoring in accounting, was in the OU marching band, and was on the JV football and baseball teams. He volunteered to serve his country and enlisted in the US Army in Norman, Oklahoma on December 9, 1942. He was called to service on May 11, 1943 where he tested extremely high on the standard Army inductee test and was assigned to the Army Specialized Training Program, ASTP, training engineers for the war effort. This led him to Ohio State University where he took various civil engineering classes for one year and was housed at the TKE fraternity house, which he had the opportunity to revisit on July 1, 2011. The ASTP program was disbanded just prior to the D-Day invasion and Bill was assigned to the 102nd Infantry Division arriving in theatre on September 23, 1944.
Bill served in the 102nd Infantry Division, 405th Antitank, entering his first battle in France. When the 102nd arrived in France in September 1944 after D-Day, the allies' rapid advancement was outrunning supply lines. Officers asked for volunteers who could double clutch a heavy truck transmission. Since he was a kid from an oil field camp, and knew how to drive a heavy truck, Bill figured volunteering to drive a truck was infinitely better than an unknown combat assignment. He stepped forward to become a driver in the Red Ball Express, re-supplying forward troops driving non-stop for days. After his unit fought their way through Holland, he was part of the invasion into Nazi Germany crossing the Ruhr River. He received 3 Bronze Stars with oak leaf cluster, Presidential Citation, Army of Occupation Medal, Good Conduct Medal, WWII Victory Medal, and 2 Battle Stars. The award he was most proud of was his Combat Infantryman Badge. Bill and his army foxhole buddy, Donald Grovert of Newhall Iowa, kept each other safe through battle. They were separated due to their antics on occasion, but always managed to get back together. They've remained close friends for the last 70 years.
Near the end of the war his unit was the first US Army unit to reach the Elbe River and held at this position. At the Elbe River crossing retreating remains of the German Army escaping the approaching Russian Red Army were surrendering to American soldiers. He and one of his friends in the 405th acquired numerous souvenirs from various German soldiers as they single filed across a partially destroyed bridge.
He was in the Army of Occupation for many months acquiring the necessary service points to be returned to the US. He was appointed to West Point by Oklahoma Congressman Boren three weeks before discharge with the necessary service points. Bill told the officers, who were happy for his appointment, "Please tell Congressman Boren "No Thanks", I've had enough of this army life and want to go back to Oklahoma and earn my degree at OU." He later told his family that he anticipated he would have undoubtedly been shipped to the Pacific had Truman not forced a Japanese surrender with the dropping of the Atomic Bombs.
After discharge on February 14,1946 he returned to his parents in Earlsboro, Oklahoma finding that his mother's dark black hair had turned completely white during his 3 years of service. The admitting office at OU asked on his return what he wanted to major in since he had taken civil engineering at Ohio State and accounting at OU. He responded that he'd just take what was first on the list ("A" for Accounting) since every day from then on was a blessing. He graduated from OU in 1947 and went to work for Magnolia Oil Company in Alice, Texas where he was promoted after one year and sent to Falfurrias, Texas. Magnolia Oil later became Mobil Oil, and then ultimately ExxonMobil. Bill held various managerial positions in Falfurrias, Texas, Midland, Texas, Corpus Christi, Texas and Houston, Texas where he retired in 1987 with 40 years of service. He served as a Municipal Judge during his retirement in Roman Forest Texas.
In 1948, he met the love of his life, Elvera Gertrude Wieland in Falfurrias and was married on 26 November 1949. Bill is survived by his wife Elvera of 62 years of marriage, son William Robert Barnett and wife Jennifer Sue Barnett of The Colony, Texas , daughter Brenda Kay Barnett Bartlett and husband Rush Lloyd Bartlett of Tulsa, Oklahoma, grandchildren Rush Lloyd Bartlett II and wife Amy Elisabeth Ketcham Bartlett of West Lafayette, Indiana, Katherine Kayleah Bartlett of Chattanooga, Tennessee, Kristine Klara Bartlett of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Elaine Ann Barnett of Denton, Texas, and step-grandchildren Jentry Dawn Cole and Garrett Lee Engle of The Colony Texas. He is preceded in death by his parents, sister Beverly Ann McGahan, niece Cynthia Ann McGahan, and grandson William Steven Charles Barnett.
Bill loved to hunt, fish, and attend his childrens' and later grandchildrens' sporting and academic events. Elvera had taught Bill to dance soon after they met, and they spent much enjoyable time sliding across the dance floor. They had an opportunity to hold each other dancing at their grandson's wedding in Columbus, Ohio last July. He was a past President, Vice President, and Director of the 102nd Infantry Association (WWII) and served on the association's board of directors for 10 years. One of his special memories was getting to know the new members of the 102nd Infantry Division when they were reactivated in 2010 at Fort Leonard Wood Missouri where the "old soldiers" transferred the colors to the "new soldiers". Bill and Elvera relocated to Tulsa in 2009.
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Billy Dillard Barnett, age 88, passed away on January 13, 2012. He was born August 28, 1923 in Santa Fe, Oklahoma to Oscar Chesterfield Barnett and Leah Essie Montgomery Barnett. At an early age his family moved to the Earlsboro, Oklahoma area. He attended Prairie View School participating in various sports and was the school's drum major. As a high school senior, he played tenor saxophone in "Nona Estes' and her Orchestra" dance band. He graduated from Prairie View and then attended the University of Oklahoma for 1 year majoring in accounting, was in the OU marching band, and was on the JV football and baseball teams. He volunteered to serve his country and enlisted in the US Army in Norman, Oklahoma on December 9, 1942. He was called to service on May 11, 1943 where he tested extremely high on the standard Army inductee test and was assigned to the Army Specialized Training Program, ASTP, training engineers for the war effort. This led him to Ohio State University where he took various civil engineering classes for one year and was housed at the TKE fraternity house, which he had the opportunity to revisit on July 1, 2011. The ASTP program was disbanded just prior to the D-Day invasion and Bill was assigned to the 102nd Infantry Division arriving in theatre on September 23, 1944.
Bill served in the 102nd Infantry Division, 405th Antitank, entering his first battle in France. When the 102nd arrived in France in September 1944 after D-Day, the allies' rapid advancement was outrunning supply lines. Officers asked for volunteers who could double clutch a heavy truck transmission. Since he was a kid from an oil field camp, and knew how to drive a heavy truck, Bill figured volunteering to drive a truck was infinitely better than an unknown combat assignment. He stepped forward to become a driver in the Red Ball Express, re-supplying forward troops driving non-stop for days. After his unit fought their way through Holland, he was part of the invasion into Nazi Germany crossing the Ruhr River. He received 3 Bronze Stars with oak leaf cluster, Presidential Citation, Army of Occupation Medal, Good Conduct Medal, WWII Victory Medal, and 2 Battle Stars. The award he was most proud of was his Combat Infantryman Badge. Bill and his army foxhole buddy, Donald Grovert of Newhall Iowa, kept each other safe through battle. They were separated due to their antics on occasion, but always managed to get back together. They've remained close friends for the last 70 years.
Near the end of the war his unit was the first US Army unit to reach the Elbe River and held at this position. At the Elbe River crossing retreating remains of the German Army escaping the approaching Russian Red Army were surrendering to American soldiers. He and one of his friends in the 405th acquired numerous souvenirs from various German soldiers as they single filed across a partially destroyed bridge.
He was in the Army of Occupation for many months acquiring the necessary service points to be returned to the US. He was appointed to West Point by Oklahoma Congressman Boren three weeks before discharge with the necessary service points. Bill told the officers, who were happy for his appointment, "Please tell Congressman Boren "No Thanks", I've had enough of this army life and want to go back to Oklahoma and earn my degree at OU." He later told his family that he anticipated he would have undoubtedly been shipped to the Pacific had Truman not forced a Japanese surrender with the dropping of the Atomic Bombs.
After discharge on February 14,1946 he returned to his parents in Earlsboro, Oklahoma finding that his mother's dark black hair had turned completely white during his 3 years of service. The admitting office at OU asked on his return what he wanted to major in since he had taken civil engineering at Ohio State and accounting at OU. He responded that he'd just take what was first on the list ("A" for Accounting) since every day from then on was a blessing. He graduated from OU in 1947 and went to work for Magnolia Oil Company in Alice, Texas where he was promoted after one year and sent to Falfurrias, Texas. Magnolia Oil later became Mobil Oil, and then ultimately ExxonMobil. Bill held various managerial positions in Falfurrias, Texas, Midland, Texas, Corpus Christi, Texas and Houston, Texas where he retired in 1987 with 40 years of service. He served as a Municipal Judge during his retirement in Roman Forest Texas.
In 1948, he met the love of his life, Elvera Gertrude Wieland in Falfurrias and was married on 26 November 1949. Bill is survived by his wife Elvera of 62 years of marriage, son William Robert Barnett and wife Jennifer Sue Barnett of The Colony, Texas , daughter Brenda Kay Barnett Bartlett and husband Rush Lloyd Bartlett of Tulsa, Oklahoma, grandchildren Rush Lloyd Bartlett II and wife Amy Elisabeth Ketcham Bartlett of West Lafayette, Indiana, Katherine Kayleah Bartlett of Chattanooga, Tennessee, Kristine Klara Bartlett of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Elaine Ann Barnett of Denton, Texas, and step-grandchildren Jentry Dawn Cole and Garrett Lee Engle of The Colony Texas. He is preceded in death by his parents, sister Beverly Ann McGahan, niece Cynthia Ann McGahan, and grandson William Steven Charles Barnett.
Bill loved to hunt, fish, and attend his childrens' and later grandchildrens' sporting and academic events. Elvera had taught Bill to dance soon after they met, and they spent much enjoyable time sliding across the dance floor. They had an opportunity to hold each other dancing at their grandson's wedding in Columbus, Ohio last July. He was a past President, Vice President, and Director of the 102nd Infantry Association (WWII) and served on the association's board of directors for 10 years. One of his special memories was getting to know the new members of the 102nd Infantry Division when they were reactivated in 2010 at Fort Leonard Wood Missouri where the "old soldiers" transferred the colors to the "new soldiers". Bill and Elvera relocated to Tulsa in 2009.
Barnett, Billy Dillard, 88, retired oil company accountant, died Friday. Services pending. Bixby Funeral Service, Bixby. (Tulsa World)
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Billy Dillard Barnett, age 88, passed away on January 13, 2012. He was born August 28, 1923 in Santa Fe, Oklahoma to Oscar Chesterfield Barnett and Leah Essie Montgomery Barnett. At an early age his family moved to the Earlsboro, Oklahoma area. He attended Prairie View School participating in various sports and was the school's drum major. As a high school senior, he played tenor saxophone in "Nona Estes' and her Orchestra" dance band. He graduated from Prairie View and then attended the University of Oklahoma for 1 year majoring in accounting, was in the OU marching band, and was on the JV football and baseball teams. He volunteered to serve his country and enlisted in the US Army in Norman, Oklahoma on December 9, 1942. He was called to service on May 11, 1943 where he tested extremely high on the standard Army inductee test and was assigned to the Army Specialized Training Program, ASTP, training engineers for the war effort. This led him to Ohio State University where he took various civil engineering classes for one year and was housed at the TKE fraternity house, which he had the opportunity to revisit on July 1, 2011. The ASTP program was disbanded just prior to the D-Day invasion and Bill was assigned to the 102nd Infantry Division arriving in theatre on September 23, 1944.
Bill served in the 102nd Infantry Division, 405th Antitank, entering his first battle in France. When the 102nd arrived in France in September 1944 after D-Day, the allies' rapid advancement was outrunning supply lines. Officers asked for volunteers who could double clutch a heavy truck transmission. Since he was a kid from an oil field camp, and knew how to drive a heavy truck, Bill figured volunteering to drive a truck was infinitely better than an unknown combat assignment. He stepped forward to become a driver in the Red Ball Express, re-supplying forward troops driving non-stop for days. After his unit fought their way through Holland, he was part of the invasion into Nazi Germany crossing the Ruhr River. He received 3 Bronze Stars with oak leaf cluster, Presidential Citation, Army of Occupation Medal, Good Conduct Medal, WWII Victory Medal, and 2 Battle Stars. The award he was most proud of was his Combat Infantryman Badge. Bill and his army foxhole buddy, Donald Grovert of Newhall Iowa, kept each other safe through battle. They were separated due to their antics on occasion, but always managed to get back together. They've remained close friends for the last 70 years.
Near the end of the war his unit was the first US Army unit to reach the Elbe River and held at this position. At the Elbe River crossing retreating remains of the German Army escaping the approaching Russian Red Army were surrendering to American soldiers. He and one of his friends in the 405th acquired numerous souvenirs from various German soldiers as they single filed across a partially destroyed bridge.
He was in the Army of Occupation for many months acquiring the necessary service points to be returned to the US. He was appointed to West Point by Oklahoma Congressman Boren three weeks before discharge with the necessary service points. Bill told the officers, who were happy for his appointment, "Please tell Congressman Boren "No Thanks", I've had enough of this army life and want to go back to Oklahoma and earn my degree at OU." He later told his family that he anticipated he would have undoubtedly been shipped to the Pacific had Truman not forced a Japanese surrender with the dropping of the Atomic Bombs.
After discharge on February 14,1946 he returned to his parents in Earlsboro, Oklahoma finding that his mother's dark black hair had turned completely white during his 3 years of service. The admitting office at OU asked on his return what he wanted to major in since he had taken civil engineering at Ohio State and accounting at OU. He responded that he'd just take what was first on the list ("A" for Accounting) since every day from then on was a blessing. He graduated from OU in 1947 and went to work for Magnolia Oil Company in Alice, Texas where he was promoted after one year and sent to Falfurrias, Texas. Magnolia Oil later became Mobil Oil, and then ultimately ExxonMobil. Bill held various managerial positions in Falfurrias, Texas, Midland, Texas, Corpus Christi, Texas and Houston, Texas where he retired in 1987 with 40 years of service. He served as a Municipal Judge during his retirement in Roman Forest Texas.
In 1948, he met the love of his life, Elvera Gertrude Wieland in Falfurrias and was married on 26 November 1949. Bill is survived by his wife Elvera of 62 years of marriage, son William Robert Barnett and wife Jennifer Sue Barnett of The Colony, Texas , daughter Brenda Kay Barnett Bartlett and husband Rush Lloyd Bartlett of Tulsa, Oklahoma, grandchildren Rush Lloyd Bartlett II and wife Amy Elisabeth Ketcham Bartlett of West Lafayette, Indiana, Katherine Kayleah Bartlett of Chattanooga, Tennessee, Kristine Klara Bartlett of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Elaine Ann Barnett of Denton, Texas, and step-grandchildren Jentry Dawn Cole and Garrett Lee Engle of The Colony Texas. He is preceded in death by his parents, sister Beverly Ann McGahan, niece Cynthia Ann McGahan, and grandson William Steven Charles Barnett.
Bill loved to hunt, fish, and attend his childrens' and later grandchildrens' sporting and academic events. Elvera had taught Bill to dance soon after they met, and they spent much enjoyable time sliding across the dance floor. They had an opportunity to hold each other dancing at their grandson's wedding in Columbus, Ohio last July. He was a past President, Vice President, and Director of the 102nd Infantry Association (WWII) and served on the association's board of directors for 10 years. One of his special memories was getting to know the new members of the 102nd Infantry Division when they were reactivated in 2010 at Fort Leonard Wood Missouri where the "old soldiers" transferred the colors to the "new soldiers". Bill and Elvera relocated to Tulsa in 2009.
-------------
Billy Dillard Barnett, age 88, passed away on January 13, 2012. He was born August 28, 1923 in Santa Fe, Oklahoma to Oscar Chesterfield Barnett and Leah Essie Montgomery Barnett. At an early age his family moved to the Earlsboro, Oklahoma area. He attended Prairie View School participating in various sports and was the school's drum major. As a high school senior, he played tenor saxophone in "Nona Estes' and her Orchestra" dance band. He graduated from Prairie View and then attended the University of Oklahoma for 1 year majoring in accounting, was in the OU marching band, and was on the JV football and baseball teams. He volunteered to serve his country and enlisted in the US Army in Norman, Oklahoma on December 9, 1942. He was called to service on May 11, 1943 where he tested extremely high on the standard Army inductee test and was assigned to the Army Specialized Training Program, ASTP, training engineers for the war effort. This led him to Ohio State University where he took various civil engineering classes for one year and was housed at the TKE fraternity house, which he had the opportunity to revisit on July 1, 2011. The ASTP program was disbanded just prior to the D-Day invasion and Bill was assigned to the 102nd Infantry Division arriving in theatre on September 23, 1944.
Bill served in the 102nd Infantry Division, 405th Antitank, entering his first battle in France. When the 102nd arrived in France in September 1944 after D-Day, the allies' rapid advancement was outrunning supply lines. Officers asked for volunteers who could double clutch a heavy truck transmission. Since he was a kid from an oil field camp, and knew how to drive a heavy truck, Bill figured volunteering to drive a truck was infinitely better than an unknown combat assignment. He stepped forward to become a driver in the Red Ball Express, re-supplying forward troops driving non-stop for days. After his unit fought their way through Holland, he was part of the invasion into Nazi Germany crossing the Ruhr River. He received 3 Bronze Stars with oak leaf cluster, Presidential Citation, Army of Occupation Medal, Good Conduct Medal, WWII Victory Medal, and 2 Battle Stars. The award he was most proud of was his Combat Infantryman Badge. Bill and his army foxhole buddy, Donald Grovert of Newhall Iowa, kept each other safe through battle. They were separated due to their antics on occasion, but always managed to get back together. They've remained close friends for the last 70 years.
Near the end of the war his unit was the first US Army unit to reach the Elbe River and held at this position. At the Elbe River crossing retreating remains of the German Army escaping the approaching Russian Red Army were surrendering to American soldiers. He and one of his friends in the 405th acquired numerous souvenirs from various German soldiers as they single filed across a partially destroyed bridge.
He was in the Army of Occupation for many months acquiring the necessary service points to be returned to the US. He was appointed to West Point by Oklahoma Congressman Boren three weeks before discharge with the necessary service points. Bill told the officers, who were happy for his appointment, "Please tell Congressman Boren "No Thanks", I've had enough of this army life and want to go back to Oklahoma and earn my degree at OU." He later told his family that he anticipated he would have undoubtedly been shipped to the Pacific had Truman not forced a Japanese surrender with the dropping of the Atomic Bombs.
After discharge on February 14,1946 he returned to his parents in Earlsboro, Oklahoma finding that his mother's dark black hair had turned completely white during his 3 years of service. The admitting office at OU asked on his return what he wanted to major in since he had taken civil engineering at Ohio State and accounting at OU. He responded that he'd just take what was first on the list ("A" for Accounting) since every day from then on was a blessing. He graduated from OU in 1947 and went to work for Magnolia Oil Company in Alice, Texas where he was promoted after one year and sent to Falfurrias, Texas. Magnolia Oil later became Mobil Oil, and then ultimately ExxonMobil. Bill held various managerial positions in Falfurrias, Texas, Midland, Texas, Corpus Christi, Texas and Houston, Texas where he retired in 1987 with 40 years of service. He served as a Municipal Judge during his retirement in Roman Forest Texas.
In 1948, he met the love of his life, Elvera Gertrude Wieland in Falfurrias and was married on 26 November 1949. Bill is survived by his wife Elvera of 62 years of marriage, son William Robert Barnett and wife Jennifer Sue Barnett of The Colony, Texas , daughter Brenda Kay Barnett Bartlett and husband Rush Lloyd Bartlett of Tulsa, Oklahoma, grandchildren Rush Lloyd Bartlett II and wife Amy Elisabeth Ketcham Bartlett of West Lafayette, Indiana, Katherine Kayleah Bartlett of Chattanooga, Tennessee, Kristine Klara Bartlett of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Elaine Ann Barnett of Denton, Texas, and step-grandchildren Jentry Dawn Cole and Garrett Lee Engle of The Colony Texas. He is preceded in death by his parents, sister Beverly Ann McGahan, niece Cynthia Ann McGahan, and grandson William Steven Charles Barnett.
Bill loved to hunt, fish, and attend his childrens' and later grandchildrens' sporting and academic events. Elvera had taught Bill to dance soon after they met, and they spent much enjoyable time sliding across the dance floor. They had an opportunity to hold each other dancing at their grandson's wedding in Columbus, Ohio last July. He was a past President, Vice President, and Director of the 102nd Infantry Association (WWII) and served on the association's board of directors for 10 years. One of his special memories was getting to know the new members of the 102nd Infantry Division when they were reactivated in 2010 at Fort Leonard Wood Missouri where the "old soldiers" transferred the colors to the "new soldiers". Bill and Elvera relocated to Tulsa in 2009.
Bio by: OkieBran
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Sgt, US Army, World War II
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