Ernest O. Barrett Jr., of Vineyard Haven, died on May 26 at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. He was 84.

Ernest was the husband of Lucinda (da Rosa) Barrett. He was born on June 6, 1935 in Oak Bluffs and went to the Tisbury School.

At a young age, Ernest’s dad was killed in an accident. Ernie, at the age of 16, left school to work so he could help support his mom and brothers and sister. He served for two years in the U.S. Army, stationed in Lanshut, Germany, and doing border patrol along the Czech border during the Czechoslovakian crisis.

Upon returning from the service, he worked for Carroll’s Trucking, Rogers Trucking, Coca Cola Co., and E.C. Cottle as a truck driver. For many years he worked as a lumberyard worker for Cottle’s. He later worked for General Dynamics in Quincy as a ship fitter on several ships for the U.S. government including the USS Wichita.

Ernest returned to the Island and worked with Doyle Construction, with JK Scanlon as a clerk of the works to help build Woodside Village in Oak Bluffs, and as clerk of the works for the West Tisbury School project. From there he worked for the Steamship Authority, and as a bus driver for the Vineyard Transit Authority until he retired.

Ernest was member of the Tisbury Fire Department, Company C, the Elks Club of Falmouth, and an honorary member of the Holy Ghost Association of Oak Bluffs.

Over the years, Ernest and Lucinda enjoyed traveling, in particular to Quebec and Ontario, Canada. They also enjoyed visiting New Hampshire and Maine, where they spent time with friends they had met over the years. Over the past couple of years, since he retired, Ernest enjoyed time with friends socializing and talking over the news of the day.

Ernest is predeceased by his parents Ernest and Mary Barrett and his brother James Barrett.

In addition to his wife Lucinda (Cindy), Ernest is survived by his sons, Wayne (Nadine), and Donald Barrett; his daughters, Ann Marie Cywinski (Joseph Sr.) and Alison Barrett (Jesse); his sister Marie Mercer (Stan), his brother, Edmund Barrett, along with many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

A graveside service and a celebration of life will be held at a later date.