George Austin Barnes

December 6, 1943 - November 16, 2016 George Austin Barnes, 72, of Huntsville, AL, went home to be with Jesus on November 16, 2016, after a valiant battle with cancer. George was born in Beaver Dam, KY, on December 6, 1943. He graduated from the University of Kentucky in 1966 with a BS in Agriculture Economics. While at UK, he served as President of the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity and lettered two years on the UK golf team. Singing in the Baptist Student Union choir, he met Johnnie Cross, and they married in 1967. George entered the Air Force in November 1966, and graduated from Officer Training School and pilot training. He subsequently flew 255 combat missions in the Vietnam War piloting the F-4 and B-52 aircraft. For his service, he was awarded many medals including four Distinguished Flying Crosses and five Air Medals. After leaving the Air Force in 1975, he began his career with Snelling & Snelling, partnering to open the Snelling franchise in Huntsville, AL. He served the Huntsville business community as the owner of Snelling for more than 38 years, during which he and his office were recognized with innumerable awards by Snelling. In the Huntsville community, he served for seven years on the Huntsville Planning Commission, and as President of the American Cancer Society, Huntsville Rotary Club, and North Alabama Sales & Marketing Executives. He served on the Board of Directors of Beaver Dam Deposit Bank and Kentucky Trust Bank for 15 years, and was a faithful member, deacon, and choir member of First Baptist Church Huntsville. George's hobby and avocation was GOLF! He was a 40-year member and recent co-owner and General Manager of the Huntsville Country Club. He won many golf tournaments over the years, including the Huntsville Country Club Championship. An avid Kentucky Wildcat fan, he was a loyal member of the "Big Blue Nation". George is survived by his wife of 49 years, Johnnie; his two daughters, Kim Quinn and her husband Matt, and Shari Beth Daley and her husband Bryan; his four granddaughters, Caroline, Megan, Sophie, and Eli Mae; his sister, Kittye King; his stepmother, Ellen Barnes; and many other beloved family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Wilda Mae and Charles Tim Barnes. A Celebration Service of George's life will be held at 11:00 am at First Baptist Church Huntsville, AL, on Monday, November 28, 2016. A gathering of friends and family will follow at the Huntsville Country Club. (www.laughlinservice.com) A Hometown Celebration Service of George will take place at Beaver Dam Baptist Church in Beaver Dam, KY, on Saturday, December 3, 2016, at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the FBCHSV George Barnes Memorial Fund for Vietnam Missions, 600 Governors Drive, Huntsville, AL 35801.