Barrett, James Henry's Obituary
James Henry Barrett
Born March 16, 1932, as Jaime Enrique Montealegre in Barranquilla, Colombia, South America to Julio de Montealegre and Carmen R. Bolivar. At age nine he and his sisters, Zoraida and Olga, were orphaned. His Tia Natalia brought them to the United States to begin a new life starting in Philadelphia, PA to San Ysidro, CA and ending in Imperial Beach, CA.
He was a forever faithful Christian, husband, father/father-in-law, grandfather, great grandfather, brother/brother-in-law, uncle, friend, dedicated carpenter for the San Diego City School District, and patriot serving in the army during the Korean War.
He enjoyed and loved his God and Savior Jesus Christ, The Word of God, praying, his family, his country, his church, singing, carpentry, gardening, traveling, directing music, playing the piano, teaching God’s Word, leading the youth group, laughing and sharing his faith with others.
He is survived by his daughters Elissa Montealegre Beck and Carmen Montealegre Olow, his sons-in-law Todd Robert Beck and Matthew James Olow, his grandsons Matthew Stephan Beck and Joshua Andrew Beck, his granddaughter-in-law Emily Marie Beck, his great grandchildren Owen and Evelyn, his nieces and nephews Nancy, Zoraida, Natalie, Jay, Charlie and Philip, many great and great-great nieces and nephews, also many among his wife’s family.
He took his vows to his wife, Sandra, family, church and country seriously but the greatest of all to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to whom he followed till his dying breath through the memorization of Scripture, sharing his faith, singing, and praying earnestly knocking even pounding on Heaven’s door.
His smile and sense of humor will be missed but our vigilant prayer warrior will be missed most of all.
One of his favorite passages which he taught his daughters aptly describes His life and legacy of 94 years:
Psalm 1:1-3 “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”
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