Allan Barnes

1938 - 2025

Allan Barnes, husband, father, grandfather and long-time public school superintendent and administrator, passed away in Vancouver, Washington this week after suffering a stroke and heart failure.

In his last days, Allan was tended to by his wife of more than 30 years, Twyla Barnes, and his son, Kirk Barnes and wife Heidi of Vancouver, and his son Eric Barnes of Memphis.

Born in Tacoma as the third of six children, Allan and his siblings were nothing if not loud, funny and boisterous beyond belief, especially when they were all together. Though Allan and his siblings grew up with very limited means and in very difficult circumstances, Allan was able to go on to tremendous professional success in public education, to travel around the world, to run marathons, to ski and live a full life. He remained close to his siblings and loved all his many nieces and nephews.

As a child, Allan attended public schools in Tacoma, Washington, including Washington Elementary School, Mason Junior High School, and Stadium High School, from which he graduated in 1956.

After serving in the US Army as a Military Police Officer stationed in Ethiopia, Allan came back to Tacoma and married Kirk and Eric's mother, Pauline Muir, who Allan remained friends with till her passing in 2021. Allan graduated from the University of Puget Sound in 1963. He became a history teacher at Gray Middle School in Tacoma then later got his Master's in Education at Oregon State University in 1967, then his Doctorate in Education at the Loyola University in Chicago in 1972.

Allan went on to work as an administrator in public education in Illinois before becoming superintendent of schools in Wishkaw, Washington outside of Aberdeen, then principal of schools in Metlakata, Alaska outside Ketchikan in during the mid-1970s.

In 1977, Allan became head of the Southeast Regional Resource Center (SERRC) in Juneau, Alaska, which he led till 1991. When he joined SERRC, it was a small Educational Service District, but Allan soon expanded the staff and services dramatically, eventually turning SERRC into a model for ESD's nationwide. As SERRC grew, Allan became very involved with the American Association of School Administrators, which his wife Twyla later headed.

Allan finished his career as head of Post-Secondary Education for the State of Alaska, then retired to Vancouver, Washington in 1994 after his wife Twyla became head of Washington's Educational Service District 112.

In retirement, Allan focused even more on physical activity, including jogging, biking, skiing, yoga, rollerblading, aerobics and Zumba, often participating in all of them in a single week. He ran a number of marathons, including the Boston marathon in 1998 just after his 60th birthday, and skied around the country and the world.

Allan loved his two boys and their children immensely, becoming a central figure in the lives of his grandchildren, Reed Barnes, Elise Barnes and Mackenzie Barnes. He played unlimited board games (happily teaching the kids early on what it means to lose), showed off his yoga skills (including regular headstands in the living room), and chased the kids with pillows (even administering what may have been a mild concussion to one of the grandchildren). He loved to be part of even the most routine parts of the kids' lives, including taking them to school and attending endless graduations, plays and performances.

Allan is survived by his wife Twyla; his son Kirk and Kirk's wife Heidi and their daughter Elise; his son Eric and his partner Leslie and Eric's children Reed and Mackenzie; Allan's older brother, Chuck Barnes; his younger sister, Geri Clough, and many nieces and nephews. Allan was preceded in death by his oldest brother, Donald Barnes, his younger brother, Gordon Barnes, and his youngest sister, Linda Barnes.

Funeral arrangements are being arranged and a service will be held later in the spring.