William Melton Barrentine

William (Will) Barrentine, 87, passed away on March 28, 2015. Mr. Barrentine was born May 30, 1927 in Greenwood, Mississippi. He graduated from Greenwood High School, Mississippi State University (MSU) with a Bachelor's of Science in Electrical Engineering, Syracuse University with a Master's of Science in Electrical Engineering, and University of Tennessee where he studied Nuclear Reactor and Nuclear Electrical Power Generation Design.
Between High School and attending MSU, Will served overseas in the Navy for both WW II and the Korean wars. During the time he served, Will was awarded 8 ribbons and medals.
Will graduated from MSU second in his class and received over 87 job offers. After deciding carefully, he pursued a life career with the General Electric Corporation. He worked on and was the leader for many high profile projects including Military Aircraft fire and flight control equipment, Instrumentation Engineering on the Apollo Program (personally involved in 2 Apollo missions), and Manager of Engineering in the Nuclear Power Generation Business Unit. Will always said that if Kennedy had stayed in office, he was sure we would have gone to Mars by now.
Will was well-known as an ""Engineer"", an ""Eagle Scout"" and was fondly called ""Willie B"" by his Greenwood friends. To earn money while in college he boxed and fought in 44 tournaments and only lost 3. Will played football in college and enjoyed tennis, flying, golf, fishing, skiing and working on and driving classic cars. In major Hurricanes, Camille and Katrina, Will was an active leader, always willing to help anyone in the community get back on their feet.
Will married his High School ""sweetheart"", Nicky, and was married for 60 years before she passed away in 2009. Will is survived by his children, Bill Barrentine, Tom Barrentine, and Neal Barrentine Clapper; his son-in-law Bryan Clapper; and his grandchildren Blake Barrentine, Paige Clapper and Sean Clapper. He was preceded in death by his wife, Cornelia (Nicky) Seat Barrentine; his parents, Luther Melton Barrentine and Pauline Elizabeth Twiner Barrentine; his son Ward Barrentine, and grandson Brent Barrentine.
Funeral services will be held Saturday April 4, 2015 at the Trinity Episcopal Church in Pass Christian. Visitation will be held from1-2 pm with Services commencing at 2 pm and burial to follow at Live Oak Cemetery. Memorials may be sent to Boy Scouts of America, Pine Burr Area Council, 1318 Hardy St., Hattiesburg, MS 39401. The RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, Long Beach, is in charge of arrangements and an online guestbook may be signed at www.riemannfamily.com