Rev. Prentice Harmon Barnett, beloved minister, husband, father, grandfather, musician, and friend, passed away peacefully on March 16 surrounded by his family at his home in Denton. He was 91.

Prentice was born in Alvarado on Sept. 2, 1926, the youngest of nine children of Prentice Hall Barnett and Nellie Lane Barnett. He was raised on a farm near Valley Mills. A 1944 graduate of Garland High School, he attended Trinity University in San Antonio, graduating with a B.A. in English in 1950. He attended Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, and received a Master of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1953. Following his ordination, Prentice served as Associate Pastor of St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Denton from 1953-55, where he met his wife, the former Ann Taylor Gribble, who was the church organist. They were married on June 30, 1955 in Nacogdoches.

In 1955 he became Associate Executive for Education for the Presbyterian Synod of the Sun, and served for 36 years at its Denton headquarters before retiring in 1991. At the time of his appointment he was the youngest synod staff member in the nation. At retirement he was the staff member with the longest continuous service. He received the Life Achievement Award from the Association of Presbyterian Church Educators. During his time in the position, the number of synod sponsored annual training events grew from two to 29. He administered 40 synod schools and 35 synod youth workshops, totaling over 25,000 participants.

Upon retirement, Prentice continued ministering with his characteristic grace and good humor to any and all he met, while spending as much time as possible pursuing his lifelong enthusiasms: gardening and music. He taught piano lessons and was accompanist for a number of voice students at the University of North Texas, and until the final week of his life he performed on Saturday afternoons at Golden Triangle Mall. He spent 25 years singing bass and serving in a number of offices, including president, for the Vocal Majority barbershop chorus. During his membership the VM won eight gold medals in international competitions. He was inducted into the Ring of Honor in January 2013.

Prentice was a charter member of the Denton Fine Arts Council and was the first president of the Denton Community Chorus. Beginning in 1960, he sang in the choir as a founding member of Trinity Presbyterian Church. He was named a Friend of the Arts by the Denton Alumnae Chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota.

From a cotton farm in the Great Depression, to the Ivy League, through a career in ministry, Prentice met Albert Einstein, Sam Walton, and Nolan Ryan. He personally lobbied Darrell Royal to integrate the Texas Longhorn football team. He was Pat Boone's piano player at the beginning of his career as a student at North Texas.

Prentice is survived by his wife of 62 years, Ann; five children: Claire Batey of Denton, Dave Barnett of Corinth, John Barnett of Dallas, Jim Barnett of Phoenix, AZ, and Michael Barnett of Denton; 12 grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be at DeBerry Funeral Home in Denton from 6-8 pm Friday, March 23. A memorial service in celebration of his life will be held at 2:00 pm Saturday, March 24, at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial gifts be sent to Our Daily Bread ministry at St. Andrew Presbyterian, or the music ministry at Trinity Presbyterian Church.