William “Bill” Ellsworth Barrett
William “Bill” Ellsworth Barrett
William “Bill” Ellsworth Barrett 1927-2012. William “Bill” Ellsworth Barrett went to his
home in Heaven February 20, 2012 at the age of 84. Bill spent his last days peacefully in his
home being cared for by his loving wife, Betty.
Bill was born on July 31, 1927 in Webb City, Missouri to William and
Estelle Barrett. Bill spent his
childhood and youth in Webb City and always had an affinity for his childhood
town keeping in touch with lifelong friends and receiving their weekly
newspaper. Hardships of life brought
Bill and his mother, Estelle, to the Northwest.
After a short stay in Raymond, Washington, they determined to move to
Nampa, Idaho so that Bill could complete his high school education through the
Northwest Nazarene Academy associated with Northwest Nazarene College (now,
NNU). Bill was academically gifted and
completed his four year high school program in three years under an accelerated
program for honor students receiving his diploma in 1945. His final year of high school also accounted
for his first year of college work. Bill
was drafted into the military shortly after high school and served during the
last of World War II and the following year.
Following his honorable discharge from the Marine Corps, Bill returned
to Nampa and continued his college education at NNC. It was at this time that he met the love of
his life, Betty Arlene Needham of Princeton, Idaho, who also was attending NNC. When Bill’s GI college benefits ran out after
two years, he took a job at Intermountain Lumber Products Co., Inc. in
Nampa. Betty also was employed by
Intermountain Lumber and was able to work alongside the one she loved. In 1948, with the mill and offices closed for
the Christmas holiday, Bill and Betty married on December 24
th
. Bill and Betty’s marriage of over 63 years
produced 5 children, 15 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren. Bill completed his college education at NNC
taking night classes while working during the day. He received his college diploma in 1957 with
a degree in Business Administration.
After a short time of work as a
teller at Idaho First National Bank in Nampa, Idaho, Bill returned to the work
he loved, brokering lumber. Bill began
his consistent career in lumber working for Westcraft Industries, Inc. of
Boise. Through his almost 50 year career
in the lumber industry, Bill worked for several noted Boise based companies
including U. S. Plywood-Champion Papers, Inc., Chandler Corporations,
Intermountain-Orient, Inc., and Hodge Forest Industries, Inc. Bill loved the challenge of completing a sale
and received numerous national sales performance awards. Following major heart surgery in 1999, Bill retired
to enjoy his home and grandchildren.
Bill was a committed Christian who
actively served in various Nazarene churches in the Boise valley. Most recently he attended Valley Shepherd
Church of the Nazarene in Meridian, Idaho.
Family, country and the protection of the unborn child were among his
highest priorities. Bill faithfully
passed that heritage, along with his commitment to Christ, to his children and
grandchildren.
Bill was preceded in death by his
parents, William Wilson Barrett and Estelle Webb Barrett. He is survived by his wife Betty of Boise, a
son Steve (Shari) of Lake Oswego, Oregon, a daughter Christine (Russell)
Halstead of Lockport, New York, a son Michael of Clarion, Pennsylvania, a son
David (Jannyce) of Boise, a son Timothy of Boise, his 15 grandchildren and 2
great-grandchildren.
Services will be held at
Alden-Waggoner Funeral Chapel at 1:00 p.m., on Friday, February 24, 2012, with
a graveside service, with military honors following at 3:00 p.m. at the Idaho
State Veterans Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the
family requests that donations be made to Nazarene Compassion Ministries or the
Pro-Life Organization of your choice.
Recommended are Stanton Health Care of Boise and the Morning Center of
Samaritan Ministries in Peoria, Illinois.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of William “Bill” Ellsworth Barrett, please visit our flower store.
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