Dwight Barlow

Dwight Edward Barlow, a mechanical engineer, died April 25 in Portland. He was 78.

Born Sept. 1, 1933, in New Britain, Conn. to Robert Henry and Marguerite Vara (Melville) Barlow, he was the younger of two children.

Raised in Lansing, Mich., he graduated from Sexton High School,in 1951.

He served as a 2nd Lt. in the U.S. Army from 1958 through 1963, when he was honorably discharged.

On Dec. 20, 1964, he married Marcia Lee Smith in Livermore.

He received two degrees from Michigan State University, one in animal husbandry, the other in mechanical engineering. He graduated with honors, and was a member of an honorary engineering fraternity.

For many years he worked as a contract mechanical engineer, primarily in two fields. One was with LLNL at the test site in Nevada, and the other was with the WPPS nuclear plant in Richland, Wash. He also worked briefly on a space shuttle following the Challenger. He retired in 2000.

A single engine pilot, he owned several small aircraft. He alsowas a sky diver, a NAUI certified scuba diver and an avid sailor.

He moved to Scappoose, Ore. in 1973, relocated to Richland, Wash., with his family later that same year, and then returned to their farm in 1984.

While maintaining ties to Scappoose, he and his wife moved to Potrerillos, Panama, during the cold Scappoose winter months. It was in Panama where he fell ill.

He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Marcia; eldest son, Mark; daughter, Jamie; youngest son, Brent; grandson, Aidan; and granddaughters, Megan and Lindsay.

A family gathering will be held at 1 p.m. on May 6 at the family residence.

Online condolences may be sent to the family on the Columbia Funeral Home Website.