Beatrice B. (Buente) Barrett

Beatrice B. Barrett, of Evansville , passed away Tuesday, February 15, 2005 , at Deaconess Hospital . She was 83.

"Bea" was born in Evansville and attended University of Evansville , where she was president of Gamma Epsilon Sigma Sorority, which became Chi Omega Sorority. After attending U of E, she went to work for The Courier and The Press newspapers. She wrote the "Let's Go Shopping With Sue" column, and the Business Review page for both papers. She also wrote copy for a sports show on the radio. She was a model for department and specialty stores and was known for her daring and fashionable hats. In the mid-twentieth century, the Gold Room at the McCurdy Hotel hosted leading fashion events where Bea was often featured.

During World War II, she and her co-workers at Republic Aviation were involved in logistical support for the famous P-38 fighter airplane. This inspired her and nine of her friends to buy an airplane and take flying lessons. This was quite progressive for women during those times.

In the community, there was no project that Bea would not want to help organize. If there was a need, she found a way to mobilize people to meet it. She was on the polio board, a member of the League of Women Voters, was on the Evansville Pre-school board which later became Evansville Day School, President of Women's Civic Club and chaired a city-wide Red Cross Drive. She was a Brownie leader, a Girl Scout leader, a den mother, and president of the P.T.A. She was president of Women's Rotary Club. She served on the Library Friends Board and was president of Delphi Twenty, a book club. She helped to found Altrusa Club of Evansville and was the charter president in 1969. She served again as president in 1974 and was editor of the Altrusa District Six newsletter.

She and her husband, James, opened a handbag factory. She designed and manufactured handbags. It was one of the only industries at the time in Evansville which actively employed the handicapped. They employed deaf persons. She and her husband had handbag and shoe stores on Main Street .

Bea was very athletic. In her youth, she broke records at Bosse High School for the standing broad jump and the running broad jump and loved horseback riding. She once rode her bicycle to Princeton , which is twenty-nine miles away.

Bea was deeply committed to the church she so dearly loved. So much of her life revolved around her dear friends at Eastminster Presbyterian Church. She was president of the Women's Association for First Presbyterian Church and then Eastminster Presbyterian Church and was a deacon and an elder and served on numerous committees. At home with her children and grandchildren, every event and project was a joy for her. Of all her accomplishments, "Mimi" would be most proud of her adoring grandchildren who will always remember her as a loving and devoted grandmother.Her children will remember her as a loving and supporting mom who taught them to be independent and that, with hard work and perseverance, they could achieve anything they set out to do.

Bea was preceded in death by her husband, James, who passed away January 29, 2004 , and her parents, Thekla and Henry C. Buente.

Surviving Mrs. Barrett are a son, James S. Barrett II, his wife, Janice, and their children, Emily, Sarah and Jennifer Barrett, of Lynchburg, Virginia; a daughter, Barbara S. Barrett of Evansville; and a daughter, Nancy B. Engelbrecht, her husband, Daniel B. Engelbrecht, and their children, Matthew Barrett Hikade, Eric Engelbrecht, and Anne Barrett Engelbrecht of Evansville. She is also survived by a brother, Robert B. Buente, his wife, Virginia, and their daughter, Ginjr; and a brother, Thomas J. Buente, and his wife, Marilyn, all of Evansville .

The family wishes to thank "Bea's Boys": Russell Brown, Charles Straeffer, Dick Byrne, Bob Moye and Emmett Owensby, loyal friends who visited her every week until her death, as well as the many friends who called, sent letters, and visited her.

Funeral services 10 a.m. Friday, February 18, 2005, at Eastminster Presbyterian Church, 5501 Washington Avenue, officiated by Rev. Dennis Davenport.

Friends may visit with the family from 3 to 7 p.m. today, February 17, 2005 , at Pierre Funeral Home, 2601 W. Franklin Street , and from 9 a.m. to service time Friday at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to Eastminster Presbyterian Church.