John Alfred Barolet, 94, of Leonardtown, MD, formerly of California, MD, died peacefully in the company of his family on June 12, 2011 at Washington Hospital Center in Washington DC. He was born on December 4, 1916 in Cranston, Rhode Island, the eldest son of Alfred Barolet and Grace Dwyer Barolet.

He grew up in Wickford, Rhode Island where he and his two brothers, William and Joseph attended North Kingston, Rhode Island high school. After high school he attended Notre Dame University to pursue his parents' dream of becoming a doctor. Observing engineering students with their slide rules, he secretly switched majors to the School of Engineering. He left Notre Dame after the death of his father to help his mother run the farm and his father's business. Two years later he returned to school at the University of Alabama. After a long break in his education in order to serve in the United States Army and raise a family, he ultimately returned to finish his degree in Electrical Engineering at the University of Maryland.

Needing summer employment during the great depression, he joined the Marine Corps Reserve where he attended Platoon Leader Course Number 1 at Quantico, Virginia. The Marine Corps lack of funding for officers led him to answer the call to duty as an Army radio intercept operator when World War II broke out. Upon completing his training at Fort Monmouth, NJ he was stationed in Stephenville Army Airfield, Newfoundland for 4 years.

While there, he met and fell in love with Margaret Mary Barron. They married on July 4, 1942 and began raising a family. He left the Army in May, 1945 and returned to Wickford, Rhode Island with his wife and two baby daughters. Leveraging his radio skills, he became a civil servant for the Department of the Navy at Quonset Point, RI.

In 1948 he moved to Patuxent River Naval Air Station and became an Electrical Engineer and branch chief. He retired from Civil Service in 1972. In the ensuring 13 years, he completed hiking the Appalachian Trail, taught adult education backpacking classes, served as the Scout Master for Boy Scout Troop 787, and volunteered at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. Additionally, he served as the St. Mary's County Coordinator for the Amateur Radio Emergency Services having been a amateur radio ham operator for more than 60 years. He lived his last six years at Cedar Lane in Leonardtown, MD where he enjoyed walking, dancing, playing cards, and talking with his friends and fellow residents.

He is the beloved father of eight children, 12 grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his mother and father and two brothers, his wife Margaret of 63 years, and his second daughter, Katherine Ann Brice.

He is survived by seven of his eight children; Grace O'Brien, Frank Barolet and wife Diane, Jane Crawley and fiancé Gary Bennett, Margaret Candelaria and husband Del, John Barolet and wife Maureen, Rosemary Watson, Ed Barolet and wife Sharon. In addition he is survived by 12 grandchildren; Jim, Tawni, Troy, Kevin, Mark, Ryan, Brian, Michael, Paul, David, Shenan and Chelsea as well as four great grandchildren; Sierra, Meghan, Victoria, and Bryce.

Family will receive friends at the Brinsfield Funeral Home, 22955 Hollywood Road, Leonardtown, MD 20650 on Thursday, June 16, 2011, from 5:00 - 8:00 pm. Prayers will be recited at 7:00 P.M. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, June 17, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Lexington Park, Maryland. All are invited for a reception in the church hall following interment.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Labre Indian School, Ashland, MT 59004-1001.

Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, MD.