Charles William Barrett Jr., 91
Charles William Barrett Jr. was born in Malden on August 11, 1934. Known as Bill to some and Charlie to others, he passed away in Acton on January 28, 2026, at age 91.
Bill met Jane Munro Wolfeboro, New Hampshire when he was 17 years old. They made their home in Acton, were married for almost 70 years, and raised four children. Betsy and Steve Farley live in Wolfeboro with their children Cassie and Alex. Ann and Tom Trudeau live in Acton with their children Tom, Jacquelyn, and Andrew. Billy and Amy Barrett have three children, Brittany, Max, and Allie, and two grandchildren, Margot (6 months) and Brooks (4 months), who were lucky enough to meet their great-grandfather and make him smile. Jen and Pete Churchill now live in North Carolina near their twins Becca and Cole.
Bill graduated from Dartmouth College in 1956 and Boston University in 1959. He joined the law firm of Esdaile, Barrett, Jacobs & Mone, where he was a partner, mentor, and friend. He spent more than 60 years practicing law, including many years working alongside his son Bill Barrett and his best friend and partner Norman Jacobs.
Bill loved his work, but family was his true passion. Family trips were always full “immersion” experiences — road trips to dude ranches, scuba diving in the Caribbean, and even flying the attack pattern over Pearl Harbor. He later began biking all over the world with his wife Jane and their friends in the Acton Bikers group. Friends, neighbors, and cousins enjoyed Bill’s enthusiasm at pow wows, lion hunts, and even his 90th birthday celebration, when he took 18 family members gambling at the Encore.
Bill was active in the legal community throughout his career. He was a member of the American Bar Association and the Trial Lawyers of America, serving on the board of governors from 1974-1985. He also served on the Boston Bar Association Council from 1970-1972 and on the Middlesex Bar Association Council from 1968-1972. He was especially proud of his involvement with the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Lawyers, for which he served as treasurer from 1972-1974 and president from 1988-1990, and from which he received the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006.
Family and friends will gather to honor and celebrate Bill’s life on Saturday, April 11, at 11 a.m. at the Trinitarian Congregational Church, 54 Walden Street.
Arrangements are under the care of Acton Funeral Home, A Life Celebration Home, Acton, concordfuneral.com.
