John Edward Barnes, M.D. was born April 26, 1930 in Montgomery, Alabama and passed away Sunday, February 3, 2008.
John spent four years in the Navy during the Korean Conflict after graduation from high school, he was stationed in Kingsville, Texas. After an honorable discharge he entered Huntington College in Montgomery, Alabama where he earned a Bachelors of Science degree in Chemistry. He went on to attend the University of Tennessee Medical School and graduated in 1963. He practiced medicine in Wadley, Alabama before returning to Memphis, Tennessee to do his surgical residency. In 1970 he moved his family to Orange, Texas and practiced medicine for fourteen years before closing his office to practice industrial medicine. As the DuPont doctor the company moved him to Charleston, West Virginia and he worked at the Belle plant. When the opportunity came around to go back to the Golden Triangle he returned and finished his years as the Medical Superintendent for the Beaumont and Sabine River Works plants. He took a medical retirement in 1994.
He loved listening to Jazz and Big Band music and he even played in a dance band until he entered medical school. He found solitude on Sabine Lake and loved to fish with family and friends.
His parents, Lucian and Edna Barnes of Montgomery, Alabama preceded him in death.
He is survived by his wife, Lois Faulkner Barnes of Beaumont; daughter, Catherine Barnes Hillsten and her husband Kevin of Nederland; son, Allen Barnes of Houston; two grandsons, Brian C. Hillsten and Troy W. Hillsten both of Nederland; brother, William S. Barnes and his wife Marjorie and their family of Atlanta, Georgia; and sister, Marie Barnes Mask and her husband Mickey and their family of Decatur, Alabama.
John’s last few years have been made easy with the help of family and friends. A special thanks goes to Patricia Maldonado who cared for Dr. Barnes the last five years and has become a part of his family.
John Barnes was a man of God, a devoted husband, caring father, son and brother who lived life to its fullest and he will be greatly missed.
Funeral service will be 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, February 6, 2008 at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. A gathering of family and friends will begin at 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 5, 2008 at the Mortuary. A graveside service will be 3:00 p.m. Thursday, February 7, 2008 at Greenwood Serenity Memorial Gardens in Montgomery, Alabama. A gathering of family and friends will follow the graveside service at Snowdoun Women’s Club in Montgomery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Shriner’s Burn Hospital, 815 Market Street, Galveston, Texas 77550 or The Parkland Foundation, 5201 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, Texas 75235.
