Carl Richard "Dick" Barnett

Carl Richard “Dick” Barnett, 83, of Clemmons, North Carolina, passed away unexpectedly on November 2, 2026.

The oldest child of Carl W. and Dollie E. (Smith) Barnett, Carl was born on November 8, 1942, in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, where he grew up surrounded by extended family. He graduated from Punxsutawney Area High School and went on to serve in the United States Air Force. During his military service, he operated an oxygen plant that supplied oxygen for the planes and pilots flying to Vietnam.

After receiving an honorable discharge, Carl returned to Pennsylvania to pursue his education at barber and beauty school in Erie. In 1969, he opened Carl Barnett’s Barber Shop in Greene Township, Pennsylvania, where he worked for 34 years before retiring in 1999.

Carl was truly a character, known for his quick wit, wonderful conversations, and love of laughing and joking with family, friends, and his many patrons over the years. He had a gift for making connections with people and leaving them with a smile.

A talented craftsman, Carl could build or repair just about anything. He built his family’s home, repaired automobiles and machinery, and approached every project with remarkable skill and attention to detail. His love of woodworking produced everything from small trinkets and intricate wall art to furniture, cabinets, tables, and lawn furniture. There was very little he wouldn’t attempt, and his creations reflected both his talent and his patience.

Carl also enjoyed hunting deer, bear, and small game, as well as fishing and taking his boat out on the lake. In his later years, he developed a fondness for watching television westerns, with Gunsmoke among his favorites.

Above all, Carl was a kind and generous man, especially when it came to his family. He took pride in the things he could build with his hands and the life he built with the people he loved.

Carl attended a one-room schoolhouse for seven years, with the same teacher throughout that time. When the school closed, he transferred to the “big school,” a three-room schoolhouse, for eighth grade. It was there that he first met Claire R. Barnett, who would later become his wife. The two married in 1966 and moved to Erie, Pennsylvania, where they made their home for 58 years. In 2024, they moved to Clemmons, North Carolina, to be closer to their daughter and her family.

Carl and Claire shared a daughter, Michelle Koster, and her husband, David, and two beloved grandsons, Andrew, 20, a college sophomore, and Caden, 18, a high school senior. His family was a great source of love and pride throughout his life.

Carl was preceded in death by his parents; his grandparents; his parents-in-law; several aunts and uncles; and sister-in-law, Eileen (Schrock) Smith and husband Geary Smith.

He is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Claire; his daughter, Michelle Koster, and her husband, David; his grandsons, Andrew and Caden; his brother, Thomas Barnett, and wife, Sharon, of Erie, Pennsylvania; his sister, Judith Firment, and her husband, Edward Firment, of Erie, Pennsylvania; his sister-in-law, Sandra Kaza, and her husband, George, of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania; and his brother-in-law, Fred Schrock, and his wife, Amy, of Jackson, Mississippi.

Carl will be remembered for his humor, his generosity, his remarkable craftsmanship, and the many conversations and memories he shared with those fortunate enough to know him. He leaves behind a legacy built not only with his hands, but also through the family he loved and the lives he touched.

A visitation will be held on Friday, November 6, 2026, from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. at Clemmons United Methodist Church Ministry Center in Clemmons, North Carolina.

A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 9263 Lake Pleasant Road, Erie, Pennsylvania.

Carl will be laid to rest at a later date in the Columbarium at Clemmons United Methodist Church in Clemmons, North Carolina.

Hayworth-Miller Kinderton Chapel in Advance, NC is serving the Barnett family.