Tehachapi News

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William J. Mead (Edward William Barnett), who died on March 7, 2008, was born August 29, 1927 in Des Moines, Iowa to Charles W. and Caroline Barnett.

Orphaned as a child, he was adopted by Stanley and Freda Mead of Ida Grove, Iowa. His adoptive parents were newspaper publishers who gave him a great many opportunities, including skills he later used as co-publisher of the Tehachapi News from 1977 until 1998.

He married Elizabeth S. (Betty) Fleischmann, of San Luis Obispo, on December 10, 1954 in Carmel. Throughout their lives together she was his business partner as well as his marital partner.

He was a member for nine years in the U.S. Naval Reserve and served on active duty twice, near the end of World War II and during the Korean War. He graduated from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo in 1956 with a degree in agricultural journalism.

Before his association with the Tehachapi News he spent many years working in the water industry with the Water Association of Kern County, Kern County Water Agency, Antelope Valley-East Kern Water Agency and other water agencies and organizations.

He is survived by his wife, Betty, of Tehachapi and daughters Debra Weger (Terry), of Tehachapi; Margaret Stokes (Arch), of Pensacola, Fla.; Carol Barrett (James), of Inyokern; a brother, John L. Morris, of Twin Falls, ID; six grandchildren and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his natural and adoptive parents, and siblings Charles W. Barnett, Jr., of West Island, Mass., Charlotte Yousling, of Santa Maria and Janice Vantroba, of Denton, TX.

There will be no public services. Wood Family Funeral Service, Inc. handled the arrangements.