May 18, 1952 – June 6

Randall James Barckholtz of Friendswood, TX, passed away June 6, 2023. He was born May 18, 1952 in Saginaw, MI.

After graduating from Arthur Hill High School in 1970, Randy attended Michigan State University and then the University of Michigan where he graduated with a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree. He worked in a private dental practice in Saginaw before enlisting in the United States Air Force as a dentist. After serving several years at Hahn Air Force Base in Germany and then cross training out of dentistry in Minot, ND, he joined the NASA workforce in Houston where he spent his space career as an astronaut instructor and Mission Control Center Flight Controller in the Space Shuttle program. He trained many astronauts, astronaut crews, instructors, and flight controllers for many flights and served NASA on more missions in the Mission Control Center as both Electrical, Environmental, and Consumables Manager (EECOM), In-Flight Maintenance (IFM), and then Vehicle Integration Test Team (VITT) flight controller/instructor before retiring in 2011 after the last Space Shuttle mission STS-135 was completed.  Randy was also written about as one of the Space Shuttle Instructors featured in the book, Before Lift-Off: The Making of a Space Shuttle Crew. Henry Cooper wrote about the crew and Shuttle training team of Space Shuttle Mission 41-G, focusing on their extraordinary day-to-day story of these astronauts' training and flight while telling the story of the bonding of these men and women on the Crew and training team.

Randy was a lover of many things — cars, planes, movies, Mopar, history, the Beatles, but most of all he adored his family. He spent much of his time with his daughters going to conventions, air shows, and movies. He also remained close with his former wife, who – together with his daughters – was by his side in death. He was passionate about learning. It wasn’t uncommon to find him in the movie theater every weekend. He loved cinematography and knew the names of every actor and director in most films, in addition to the make, model, and year of each car appearing in the movie.

He is survived by two daughters, Jennifer (Max) Russell of Florida and Lindsay (Spencer Hallaway) Barckholtz and grandson Daniel Hallaway of Friendswood, his former wife of 29 years, Joy Barckholtz, brother Terry (Melinda) Barckholtz and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Darwin A and Phyllis (Stapleton) Barckholtz.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, November 10, 2023 at 5:00 P.M. at Jeter Memorial Funeral Home, 311 N. Friendswood, Texas 77546.

Those interested in memorializing Randy may consider the NASA EXCHANGE — JSC Scholarship fund in memory of Randall J. Barckholtz. Checks should be made payable to Joy Barckholtz, 19 Windsong Lane, Friendswood, TX 77546.