William "Bill" Naunton Barbat

William Naunton Barbat

September 6, 1929 – February 10, 2024

William N. “Bill” Barbat, 94, passed away at his home in Lake Oswego, Oregon February 10.

Bill graduated from Taft High School in Taft, California. He attended California Institute of Technology for two years, then received a B.S. (’51) and M.S. (’52) in Geology from Stanford University, as a member of Kappa Sigma.

He worked as a petroleum exploration geologist for Pan American Petroleum/Amoco in Casper, WY, where he met and married Anne Louise (Dushick) Webb in 1960. Bill was transferred to Denver in 1961. He left the corporate life in 1967, and moved to Jackson Hole, Wyoming with his family, where Bill worked as an independent geologist. They enjoyed the scenery, skiing, rafting, and the active outdoor lifestyle.

Bill published the CO2 Newsletter in the early 1970s, a compilation of scientific publications on the effects of greenhouse gases causing global warming. He was an early advocate for nuclear power to replace coal and oil to prevent future environmental calamity, and changed to exploration for uranium.

The family moved to Coeur d’Alene, ID in the early 80s. Bill and his son James learned to sail on Lake Coeur d’Alene with the Sea Scouts, an activity they enjoyed together for decades. After the passing of Anne in 1987, Bill moved to Lake Oswego, OR.

In Lake Oswego Bill met Kriemhild Marita Stahl, and they married there in 1991. They held a second ceremony in her hometown of Walsrode, Germany in 1993.

In his retirement, he enjoyed sailing at Newport, OR, and pursuing cutting edge alternative energy ideas and inventions. He received a patent for parts of a fuelless generator through his research entity, Levitronics.

Bill was preceded in death by his sister Jeanette Griego of Monterrey, CA and his parents William F. and Dorothy N. Barbat, of Oakland, CA. He is survived by his beloved wife Marita of Lake Oswego; sons John Barbat (Edna “Deedee” Slowe) of Idaho Falls, ID and James Barbat of Portland, OR; daughters Carolyn Hidy (Troy) of Trout Creek, MT and Margie Adams (Joel) of Red Lodge, MT; grandsons Abraham Hidy (Alina Veksler), Wilson Hidy, and Neil Adams; great-granddaughter Isabella Hidy-Veksler; and nieces Laurel Pennebaker, Holly Smith, and Meredith Greene.

The family is grateful for the assistance of the care team and Hospice providers.

Donations in Bill’s name would be welcome to Mercy Ships, Union of Concerned Scientists, or the charity of your choice.