John A Barrett

John “Jack” Aloysius Barrett, of Vienna, Virginia, slipped away peacefully in his sleep on July 12, 2026, at the Puller Veterans Care Center in Warrenton, Virginia.  Jack was predeceased by his wife of 60 years, Connie Campbell Barrett, and his youngest son, Robert Joseph.  He is survived by six children:  John Michael (Rosann) Barrett of Virginia Beach, Virginia; Marianne Barrett (“Bert”) Lampert (of Afton, Virginia; Timothy Allen (May) Barrett of Fairfax, Virginia; Rita Claire (Bob) Alexander of Inwood, West Virginia; William Paul (Jess) Barrett of Dumfries, Virginia; and Joan Elizabeth Holliday of Alexandria, Virginia.  He is also survived by one brother, William Joseph Barrett, Jr. of Rockville, Maryland, twelve grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Jack was born in Washington, D.C. and grew up in the Anacostia neighborhood.  He was a senior at Anacostia High School when Pearl Harbor was bombed in December 1941 and wanted to enlist immediately in the armed forces.  Jack’s mother was very ill at the the time so he acquiesced to his father’s request that Jack finish high school before enlisting.  The day after high school graduation in 1942 he started working for the Army Map Service as a draftsman, but then he left that job and enlisted in the U.S. Navy in September 1942 of that year at age 17.

Jack served in the Navy throughout the duration of World War II: first on the SS Steel Inventor in convoys in the North Atlantic between New York and the United Kingdom, and then on a Fletcher class destroyer, the USS Halsey Powell (DD-686), in the Pacific.  His ship saw action in fierce battles in the Pacific, survived the typhoon of late 1944, and was hit by a kamikaze in March of 1945.  Jack told great stories about his Navy service; he had an amazing memory for events and details even into his 90’s and attended numerous ship’s reunions.

After the war he returned to Washington, D.C. and worked as a cartographer for 35 years at the Army Map Service (which was eventually renamed the Defense Mapping Agency).

One night while at a bowling alley with friends, he met the love of his life, Constance (“Connie”) Campbell, when she tried to recruit him for a mixed league.  He had asked her three times to marry him before she finally said yes.  Rumor has it that her sisters told her not to be a fool and to accept him.  Jack and Connie married in January of 1948 and moved into a one-bedroom apartment in southeast Washington.  By spring of 1955, they had four children in that tiny apartment and at the urging of family and friends, bought a three-bedroom, one bathroom home in Vienna, Virginia.  Three more children followed, and they all grew up in that little house.

Jack and Connie both loved bowling and participated in bowling leagues in northern Virginia.  They both carried high averages and were consistently on winning teams or getting individual awards.  In the 1970s, Jack developed a love for golf and for many years he organized group golf trips.  Jack and his golfing buddies also had a love for the Vienna Inn, and in their later years you could find several of them in the same corner most afternoons — drinking, joking and just sharing time with each other.

None of Jack and Connie’s children would dispute that they were the best parents any child could wish for.  They set a very high bar for unconditional love, fairness, tolerance, and handling life with humor.  You took a risk handing either of them a straight line; they would zing you in a heartbeat.  It’s a testament to their example that all children love each other and get along so beautifully.  We are heartbroken that they are both gone.

A gathering to remember Jack will be held at the Money & King Funeral Home at 171 Maple Avenue, Vienna, Virginia, on Tuesday, August 25, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.  After the gathering, please join us at the American Legion at 330 Center Street, Vienna, Virginia, to raise a glass in Jack’s honor.  Interment at Arlington National Cemetery will take place sometime next year.  We would love to hear your stories about Jack.  Don’t hold back.  He wouldn’t.