More detail on this person: Col. Peter J.
Barrett (retired), age 72, passed away at home in
Tejas Shores, Houston County Lake, on April 21,
2010 following a brief illness. He was preceded in
death by his parents Thomas and Mildred Barrett
and father-in-law Jack Allee.
He is survived by his wife, Susan Barrett.
Children: Michael Barrett of Astoria New York,
Daughter Kate Barrett and husband Robert
Schroeder of Whittier, California, son Kevin
Barrett of North Attleborough, Massachusetts.
Step-sons Brad Bobbitt of Crockett, TX, Matt and
wife Cassie Bobbitt, Jackson and Kate Bobbitt;
Mother-in law Lorene Allee, brothers-in-law
Stephen Allee and Ray and Chelli Turner.
Peter Barrett was born on February 2, 1938 in
Brooklyn, NY He graduated from Fordham
University in New York City and obtained a
master's degree from Syracuse University in
Broadcast Journalism. He began broadcasting in
1952, at age 14, as a member of The All City Radio
Workshop at WNYE-FM, New York. Worked as
on-air personality for WFUV, NY and WAER,
Syracuse while attending school. He worked part
time as television news talent for NBC affiliate
WSYR, Syracuse.
He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant Regular
Army upon graduation from Fordham as a
Distinguished Military Graduate. He served in the
U.S. Army 24 years as aviator, aviation unit
commander and public affairs officer. Spent two
tours of duty in Vietnam as Assault Helicopter
Company Commander. He was awarded 2
Distinguished Flying Crosses, 2 Bronze Star
Medals and 19 Air Medals. Colonel Barrett retired
in 1983 as Deputy Director of Armed Forces
Broadcasting Service Programming Center,
Hollywood, CA. He earned the Tom Lewis Award as
Department of Defense Outstanding Military
Broadcaster.
Upon retiring from the Army, he spent two years as
staff announcer for the NBC Television Network in
Burbank, and as a Free lance voice-over talent in
Los Angeles and Houston. He was affiliated with
KIVY, in Crockett TX as on-air talent in news and
special programming. for several years. Peter had
a love for theater and performing arts of all
genres. He was known as "The Voice of Piney
Woods Fine Arts." He was an accomplished actor
and director of performances in Houston County and
all over the United States. He was also an avid
ukelele player, traveling to Conroe twice weekly
to perform with the Happy Strings Band at Conroe
First Baptist Church. He attended the First
Baptist Church, Grapeland.
Peter began playing the ukelele when he bought an
"Arthur Godfrey" plastic uke for $5.00 at age 14.
He quickly progressed to a baritone uke to emulate
his radio idol and has been playing ever since.
His only picture in the Fordham College Yearbook
is on Jones' Beach, Long Island with uke in hand.
He discovered the banjo ukelele in a flea market
in Saigon in 1966.
A Memorial Service for Peter Barrett will be held
at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family
requests donations be sent to The American
Cancer Society 212 Gene Samford Dr., Lufkin,
Texas 75904 or The Piney Woods Fine Arts Center.
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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Date posted on this site: 03/11/2023
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