Barbara Barnes

1950 - 2025

Barbara Barnes
08/18/1950 - 08/18/2025
Barbara Ann Butler Barnes, beloved wife, mother, sister, grandmother, colleague and friend, died peacefully on August 18, 2025-her 75th birthday-at Calvary Hospital in the Bronx, New York. Barbara was born on August 18, 1950, in Enid, Oklahoma, to Henry George Butler and Beverly Bond Holmes. After being born in Oklahoma due to her father's Air Force flight training, Barbara's family returned to Houston, where she lived the majority of her life. Barbara's family was one of the first to move into a new real estate development called Sharpstown, where she enjoyed riding bikes and playing on the mountains of dirt which became the Southwest Freeway.
Barbara graduated from Robert E. Lee High School, where she excelled academically as a valedictorian of her class in 1968. She continued her education at the University of Houston, graduating with a degree in English magna cum laude. During her time there, she was an active and proud member of the Gamma Upsilon chapter of Alpha Chi Omega sorority. It was also at UH in 1969, that Barbara met Dean Barnes, then a student pursuing a degree in architecture, at a TGIF mixer.
Barbara and Dean married in January 1972 in Houston and their life together continued for fifty-three years. Dean and Barbara raised two daughters, Katharine M. Barnes (Katie) and Susan Barnes Girling. The family made their home first in Bellaire and Meyerland before moving to the west side of Houston in the mid-1980s. Barbara embraced her role as a full-time mother, pouring herself into raising her girls with love, guidance, and faith. Barbara was an active volunteer at their schools over the years - at Lovett Elementary, West Briar School, Duchesne Academy and Episcopal High School. Barbara was a hard working volunteer, always getting the job done.
In addition to her devotion to family, Barbara possessed a remarkable gift for numbers and organization. She applied these skills in accounting and bookkeeping for her own household and her work at the firm of her stepfather, Richard J. Holmes. Barbara enjoyed working with her mother, Beverly, and their office family. After his retirement in 1996, Barbara had the opportunity to join the business office at Episcopal High School in Bellaire, Texas. She treasured her work there and the friendships built with her colleagues, remaining dedicated to the EHS community for almost 20 years until her 2017 retirement. In retirement, Dean and Barbara were able to travel to see family and friends, often incorporating Astros baseball games, museums and buildings of architectural significance along the way.
When not working, Barbara enjoyed following the Houston Astros and University of Houston Cougars, reading the comics, especially Peanuts, spending time outside on walks, researching genealogy with her family, and traveling. She was proud to have completed two half marathons. Barbara was an active member of Christ Church Cathedral, serving on the Religion and the Arts and the Mission & Ministry councils.
Barbara's life only deepened with the arrival of her beloved granddaughters, Lucy Katharine Girling and Emily Caroline Girling. To them, she was affectionately known as "Gramma." Being their Gramma was one of her life's greatest blessings. Dean and Barbara moved from Houston in 2023 to Larchmont, NY to be nearer to family and the granddaughters. Barbara was their cheerleader, enjoyed every school event from the band performances and musicals to swim meets and soccer games.
She is survived by her devoted husband, Dean; her daughters, Katie Barnes and Susan Barnes Girling (Adam); her granddaughters, Lucy Katharine Girling and Emily Caroline Girling; her siblings, Donald Butler (Marian) and his children, Kelly Butler, Kevin Butler (Nicola) and Brad Butler (Jamie Gin); Nancy Scott (Scooter) and their children, Saxon Scott, Mallory Scott, and Spencer Scott; and Mary Beth Butler (Ken Pritchett) and their children, Holley Pritchett (JoJo) and Brandon Pritchett (Courtney); and many extended family members and friends who will forever carry her memory. She was preceded in death by her parents, Henry George Butler and his wife, Mary Jane Butler and Beverly Bond Holmes and her husband, Richard J. Holmes.
The family extends thanks to the staff of Calvary Hospital for their compassionate care, and to the many friends who surrounded Barbara with prayers and love during her final months.
A memorial service will be held at eleven o'clock in the morning on Friday, October 3, at Christ Church Cathedral, 1117 Texas Avenue, Houston, Texas. A livestream of Christ Church Cathedral's service will be available at the following link: https://www.christchurchcathedral.org/barnesmemorial/ A reception will be held at Christ Church Cathedral immediately following in Sanders Hall. The committal service will be held at three o'clock in the afternoon at Forest Park Westheimer Cemetery, 12800 Westheimer Road, Houston, Texas 77077.
In lieu of customary remembrances, the family encourages gifts in Barbara's memory to the Endowment Fund at Christ Church Cathedral (www.christchurchcathedral.org), Episcopal High School (www.ehshouston.org) or a charity of your choice.