Edward Franklin Barnett ’48, 87, died Nov. 23, of complications from a heart attack.
Barnett was born in Glendale and grew up in South Gate.
He graduated from South Gate High School in 1942, and then enrolled in the University of Santa Clara.
He left college during World War II to attend the Naval V-12 Program at UC Berkeley in 1943 and 1944. Then he served in the U.S. Marine Corps until 1946.
When his service ended, he returned to Santa Clara, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in history in 1948.
Barnett moved to Redlands in 1953, and worked for his father-in-law, Louis Scherer, at the Scherer Construction Co., which had earlier built Redlands’ historic post office.
Barnett established his own company, Citation Construction Corp., in 1960, and as a developer produced 2,000 homes in Redlands, Riverside, Rialto, Rancho Mirage, San Bernardino and Trona. His final development was Smiley Heights in Redlands.
He moved to Newport Beach in 1970, and returned to Redlands in 1997.
He subsequently became an instructional aide in the Colton school district, a position he held until the day before his heart attack.
He enjoyed reading, traveling, fine food, wine, and having coffee at the Olive Avenue Market.
Barnett is survived by two daughters, Tina Pyatt of Redlands and Melissa Honacek of Dana Point; two step-sons, Richard Freeman of Encinitas and Bruce Freeman of Bakersfield; 10 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.