Earl Barnes

Earl H. Barnes, 91, went home to be with the Lord on June 28, 2011. He is reunited in Heaven with his wife June Barnes, and they are smiling down upon us all. Earl was born May 24, 1920 in Sebring, OH to Jesse and Margery Barnes. He was inducted into the Army January 15, 1942 as part of the 705th Tank Destroyer Battalion, upon which he spent three years fighting for our Country in World War II. The 705th T.D. battalion was instrumental in the defense of Bastogne in the Battle of the Bulge, for which they won the coveted Presidential Unit Citation. Earl will always be remembered for his service to our Country. After returning home from the war, he met June (Waithman) Barnes. They were married June 26, 1948 in Sebring, OH. They built a house and life together in Salem, OH where they raised two children Dana and Renee’ Barnes. Earl worked for the E.W. Bliss Co. as an Electrician for over 30 years. He was a jack-of-all-trades, a man that could fix anything, and he was always willing to help anyone in need of his services. He enjoyed fishing, camping, and spending time with friends and family, especially his grandchildren. Earl and June were active members of the East Goshen Friends Church in Beloit, OH, and they gave selflessly to serving the Lord. Earl and June celebrated 60 years of marriage, before June went to be with the Lord in 2008. Following the loss of his wife, Earl took up residence in Cheyenne, WY. He continued his life of service; volunteering his time at the Cheyenne V.A., where his smile and kind words impacted many lives. Earl Barnes was truly a man of the Greatest Generation, and will be missed more than words can express. Earl is survived by his son Dana and his wife Debby of Cheyenne, WY; his daughter Renee’ of Youngstown, OH; three grandchildren Jennifer (Will) Sharp of Golden, CO, Stacy Barnes of Brooklyn, NY, Matthew Barnes of Denver, CO; a niece and nephew John and Nancy Thomas and a brother-in-law Gordon Waithman of Damascus, OH. Services will be held Saturday, July 2, 2011, at the East Goshen Friends Church at 11 a.m. with Pastor Baker officiating. Friends may call at the funeral home on Friday July 1, from 6 to 8 p.m. Burial will be at the Friends Church Cemetery and a luncheon for family and friends will be held at the church following the service. Memorial contributions can be made to the East Goshen Friends Church 1680 South Range Rd, Beloit OH 44609 or to Gateways to Better Living Attention Gail Riess 6000 Mahoning Ave Suite 234 Youngstown, OH 44515. Friends may sign the guest register and send condolences online at www.grfuneral home.com Arrangements are by Gednetz-Ruzek Funeral Home, 126 West Vermont St. Sebring, OH.

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