Richard H. “Dick” Barrett

Richard H. “Dick” Barrett was born on January 22, 1928 in Detroit to Richard P. Barrett and Lois High Barrett. In the early years, Dick lived in Traverse City. Dick graduated from Traverse City Central High School. He enlisted in the Navy and later was accepted in the Naval Academy. He served in the U.S. Naval Hospital Corps at San Diego and U.S. Marine Depot Receiving at Parris Island where he achieved the rank of Pharmacists Mate, 3rd Class. After his discharge, he completed college in 1954 at Michigan State University, which he continued to support throughout his life. In the summer months, he earned money driving the dune scooters full of tourists at Sleeping Bear Dunes and worked on the cross-lake ferry from Ludington. After college, he worked his entire career for the Social Security Administration. On June 1, 1964, Dick married Eleanor Hare in South Bend, Indiana. Dick lost Eleanor on the afternoon of December 24, 1974, when she died unexpectedly. In 2002, he moved to Breton Woods, where he met Bette VanCoevering, his new next-door neighbor. Dick and Bette were married in October 2003. Dick’s favorite pastime was playing pool, and he was the Breton Woods Billiards Tournament Champion seven times from 2003-2018. They had 17 wonderful years together until Bette passed away in November 2020. On July 28, 2024, Dick passed away peacefully at age 96 at the Raybrook Manor of Holland Home. He will be missed for his kindness, generosity and good humor.

He is survived by four step-children, Claude (Donna) Vander Ploeg, Jon (Pam) Vander Ploeg, Julie (Jim) Bolton, Susan Ewing; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. 

Memorial services will be held 1 p.m. Wednesday, August 21, 2024 at Holland Home Breton Terrace Chapel, 2500 Breton Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, with Rev. Les Wiseman BTH MA officiating.