LLU School of Dentistry Journal

Journal

Spring 2002

In memoriam
William C. Barnett

Dr. William C. (Bill) Barnett passed to his rest Thursday, January 24, at home. Dr. Barnett was an esteemed faculty member in the School of Dentistry from 1960 through 1967; he was a clinical assistant professor in the departments of prosthodontics and oral surgery. He was invited to faculty service by former dean Dr. Charles T. Smith.

Greatly loved by his students, he enjoyed his role as a faculty member—he saw his purpose as a helper to them in learning the skills on which their lifetime of dental practice would be based.

He particularly cherished the one-to-one teaching opportunities where he could work with a student at a lab bench or in a clinic operatory, to demonstrate clinically related procedures. Students often came to his house in the evening to seek help with laboratory projects, or sometimes just to “hang out.” His ready sense of humor made him a delightful teacher to work with, and eased tensions where students had encountered difficulties.

Dr. Barnett had a continuing interest in providing clinical care for underserved people; he spent a month with Dr. George Gamboa where they served as visiting dentists on the Amazon River on the mission launch, Luziero, providing dental care for many people who had never seen a dentist before. He made several trips with the LIGA International, a group of dentists, and physicians, many of whom are pilots, who fly private planes to various clinic service opportunities in Mexico.

Dr. Barnett had recently experienced heart problems. He died peacefully in his sleep, apparently of heart failure. He is survived by Lillian, his wife; daughter Kathyrine, 47, a clinical nurse specialist with Loma Linda University Medical Center; son William II, 42, who is in the hotel business in Phuket, Thailand; and one granddaughter, Kaitlin, age 7.

Funeral services were held at Loma Linda Mortuary, with interment in Montecito Memorial Park. For those who may want to make contributions in lieu of floral tributes, Mrs. Barnett suggests any of the Adventist media ministries or student scholarship funds at the School of Dentistry.

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