Former Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. Chairman, CEO and President Tom Barrett recently died. He was 93 years old.
Barrett, who died in Naples, Fla., was appointed chairman, CEO and president of Goodyear in 1989 and held those positions until 1991.
Preceded by his wife of 53 years, Marilyn Dunn Barrett; his sister, Pauline: and brothers, Paul and Jack, he was born in Topeka, Kan., to William Valentine Barrett and Myrtle Huss Barrett.
The fourth of ten children, he grew up on a poultry farm and later attended Kansas State University, where he graduated with a degree in chemical engineering and later endowed the Tom H. Barrett Faculty Chair in chemical engineering.
He served in the U.S. Army as a lieutenant for two years during the Korean War.
“After his Army service, he started his career at Goodyear Tire and Rubber as a tire plant trainee,” according to his obituary.
“Tom worked at Goodyear for the next 40 years. Throughout his Goodyear career, he and Marilyn moved their family through Kansas, Ohio, Alabama, Massachusetts, Illinois, Luxembourg, and Ohio for a second time.
“He spoke fondly of the work his wife, Marilyn, did to ensure these moves went smoothly for the whole family. He also obtained a master’s in business from the MIT Sloan School of Management.
“After Goodyear, Tom was active on several boards of directors and in private equity.”
He is survived by his three daughters, Sara Ellerhorst (Jim), Susan Kelleher (Steve), and Jennifer Tenbarge (Harold); eight grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; siblings Bill Barrett, Bonnie Wilson, Donna Leyden, John Barrett, Carolyn Keller, and Dick Barrett; and sister-in-law, Nancy Anderson.
“His often-stoic demeanor belied a warmth and deep dedication he showed to his family, friends, and community.”
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the First Tee Chapter in Naples, Fla., or to the Music Fund at Naples United Church of Christ (UCC).
Donations to First Tee can be made online at https://firstteenaplescollier.org/donate/, or by mail to First Tee - Naples/Collier, 1370 Creekside Blvd. Naples, FL 34108. Donations to the Music Fund can be made through https://onrealm.org/NaplesUnitedChu/-/form/give/TomHBarrett, or by mail to Naples UCC, 5200 Crayton Road, Naples, FL 34103. Private services will be held. For more, visit www.fullernaples.com.
