Charles Minor Barringer, of Kennett Square, died on June 13 after a short decline. He was born Nov. 17, 1920, in Locust Valley N.Y., the son of Lucy (Minor) and Paul B. Barringer, Jr. Minor graduated from Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Va. and from Princeton University in the class of 1942, later going on to receive his masters' and doctorate degrees in chemistry from Princeton.
After participating in a naval training program in the summer of 1940, Minor was commissioned in 1941 in the US Navy, and served as Assistant and then Chief Engineer on the destroyers USS Bristol and USS Trathen. He mustered out as a lieutenant commander in November 1945.
In December 1942 Minor married Mary M. Pratt, who predeceased him in 2012. They lived for 50 years on Center Mill Road before moving to Kendal in 2001. From 1949 to 1965 Minor worked for the E.I. DuPont Company in the organic chemicals and elastomers departments. He then resigned to engage in consulting and community service in minority business relations in Wilmington, where he helped found the West Center City Early Learning Center. He was also active in open space preservation and land use planning in Kennett Township and the Brandywine River watershed. He and Mollie were members of Christ Church in Greenville, Delaware.
Minor's interests included history, science, the environment, gardening, fly-fishing, travel, meteorology, and woodworking. To the end of his life he kept up with current events and research on Alzheimer's disease, and kept in close touch with a far-flung family in Europe, Australia, and many areas of the U.S.
He is survived by his two daughters: Mary Barringer of Shelburne Falls, Mass., and her spouse J Doster; and Elizabeth Barringer of Cambridge, Mass. and her husband John Clark; daughter-in-law Therese Barringer of Haddonfield, N.J.; six grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. His son Charles M Barringer Jr. predeceased him in 2010, as did a daughter, Lucy, in 1950.
A memorial service will be held at a later date. Please check www.griecocares.com for updates. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Minor's name to Canine Partners for Life P.O. Box 170 Cochranville, PA 19330 or to the Red Clay Valley Association, 1760 Unionville-Wawaset Rd., West Chester, PA 19382, or to West Center City Early Learning Center, 600 No. Madison St., Wilmington, DE 19801. Arrangements are being handled by the Kuzo & Grieco Funeral Home Inc. (610-444-4116) of Kennett Square. To view his online tribute or to share a memory with his family, please visit www.griecocares.com.
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