Joseph (Dr.Joe) Carl Barnett Jr. M.D.

Joseph (Dr. Joe) Carl Barnett Jr. M.D. of Alpharetta, GA passed away on May 26th 2012 at home after a relatively brief illness with metastatic lung cancer. Joe was born on August, 30 1926 in Marietta, GA to Joseph Carl Barnett Sr. and Coralie Carsley Barnett. He graduated Marietta High School, attended undergraduate school at Emory at Oxford, followed by Medical School at the University of Georgia School of Medicine. He developed an interest in diseases of the brain after his Uncle Fred developed epilepsy from a brain tumor. Dr. Barnett completed internship at Margaret Hague Hospital in New Jersey, and 1 year of neurosurgery training at Emory University before going to Korea in 1951, where he served in a front line MASH unit with Dr. Arnold Meirowsky for 3 years. It was that experience that prompted the writing of the first scientific paper on gunshot wounds to the brain in a military setting. After completing his tour of duty in Korea, he completed his residency at Emory University in neurosurgery under Dr. Edgar Fincher. He subsequently went to Washington University in Saint Louis to study in the laboratory focusing on treatment of trigeminal neuralgia, also spending some time with Dr. Henry Schwartz at Barnes Hospital in Saint Louis. As was the typical case in neurosurgery training and at the recommendation of his professor, Dr. Homer Swanson, Dr. Barnett studied neuropathology at New York-Presbyterian Hospital under the tutelage of Dr. Sheila Donahue – who became a lifelong friend of him and his wife Ruth. He married Ruth Naomi Partridge on August 25th, 1956 and they enjoyed life together until her death in 1998. After completing his training, he joined Dr. Swanson in private practice at Piedmont Hospital; but, he had always had a vision of returning home to Marietta to practice neurosurgery. After the establishment of Kennestone Hospital, Dr. Barnett open his practice in Marietta from which he retired in 1996 after 39 years. His life was devoted to the care of his patients. Dr. Barnett was a lifelong avid supporter of the arts and education, supporting the Atlanta Opera, the Theatre in the Square, the Atlanta Symphony, the High Museum of Art, the University of Georgia and Kennesaw University as well as the Smithsonian Institute. He had an interest in automobile restoration and devoted many years to the restoration of his 1951 Bentley. He is survived by his children Carl, Florrie, Beth, and Malcolm, 10 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. There will be a visitation/remembrance on Saturday June 2nd from 3pm to 7pm at Mayes Ward-Dobbins Funeral Home in Marietta, Georgia. In lieu of flowers, a fund will be established with the Atlanta Opera in Memory of Dr. Joseph and Ruth Barnett. www.mayeswarddobbins.com

Joseph (Dr.Joe) Carl Barnett Jr. M.D.

August 30, 1926 - May 26, 2012