Robert Barrett

Robert (Bob) Barrett of Albuquerque NM passed away on January 8, 2026. He is preceded in death by his parents and sister Barbara. He is survived by his wife Judi, daughter Whitney and her husband Kevin, sister Carol and many beloved nieces and nephews. 

Bob was born in Missoula, MT in 1942 to Robert and Agnes Barrett. His younger years were spent in Tacoma, Washington. His father died when he was 7 and he was mainly raised by his mother and dear sister, Carol. 

Bob moved to Albuquerque and attended Valley High School followed by UNM where he received his Bachelor's Degree. During the Vietnam War he was a member of the NM Air National Guard. Always a people person, upon his return to Albuquerque he worked a variety of jobs including insurance and office equipment prior to starting his own business building custom homes. 

He and his loving wife, Judi, were married in 1972. In 1981 one of the great joys and loves of his life was born, his daughter, He loved being a dad. Whitney was the sunshine in his life and he and Judi were her greatest fans.

Bob would probably want to be remembered as a boat racer. He raced Sport J power boats for 15 years and traveled with his dedicated crew all over the country. In 1977 he was American Power Boat Association "High Point" in his class. In 1980, he took first place in the Sport J World Championship in Saint Louis, MO.

Bob was president of Whitney Homes, a custom home construction company, for 28 years. He built homes in the Albuquerque area, Placitas and the Tijeras. He very much enjoyed getting to know his clients and building them their special home.

In his retirement, (still loving boats and water) he enjoyed owning a yacht with his nephew, Pat, in Gig Harbor Washington. With family and friends (especially the Sandovals), he would spend weeks exploring Puget Sound and the Canadian gulf islands. They did a lot of traveling and enjoyed Europe, Asia, Africa, Costa Rica, the US and more. Bob also decided to take up golf and enjoyed his golf buddies as they tried to master the game. His favorite part of golfing was breakfast on Thursdays.

Bob was a true Lobo fan. During the season he could always be found at football games and tail gating. An avid supporter of men's and women's basketball they attended home games and he and Judi took trips with friends to Las Vegas for the tournament many years in a row.

Bob was fun-loving, quick-witted, and intelligent, with a talent for storytelling and a deep appreciation for a willing audience. Even through difficult times, he continued to charm those around him with his humor, warmth, and laughter.

Above all, Bob loved deeply and found great joy in life. He loved his wife, family, and friends-and especially his yellow Labs, who somehow always managed to train him rather than the other way around.

There will be a celebration of his life on January 20th, 2026 at 10:00 AM at New City Church. 4700 San Mateo Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Bosque Trails Hospice. https://www.bosquetrailshospice.com/donate Or other charity that might remind you of him.