Charles Edward Barnes

Charles was born on January 18, 1928, to Charles and Belle Jane Smith Barnes in Cleveland, Oklahoma. He spent his entire youth in those Oklahoma hills and grew up learning to hunt and fish. He graduated from Cleveland High School just as his father was returning from his four-year service at Guadalcanal during WWII. In January of 1946 Charles joined the U.S. Navy and served as a radar operator on the U.S.S. Antietam (CV-36) aircraft carrier in the Pacific. Following his honorable discharge in Dec. 1947, he studied at Oklahoma A&M in Stillwater for three years and then decided to work in the oil patch. While working in Kansas, he met and married Eulala Pavlicek and had two daughters Celeste and Brenda. Later in life he married Joyce Neal, and they shared 53 happy years together.

He completed a twenty-eight-year career with J.M. Huber Corporation in Borger, Texas as a Lab Chemist where he tested carbon samples. He shared a love for hobbies and sports, loved to play golf, handball, bowl, fish and was an avid reader until his eyesight was lost to macular degeneration. He also loved woodworking spending hours in his shop crafting small items. Charles was a kind man, never met a stranger and always met everyone with a smile. He found joy in each day and had a keen ability to make people laugh with his dry humor. Bird watching was a favorite past time at the nursing home where he would mimic the sounds of the different species of birds. He also loved listening and singing with the Gospel singers on Monday mornings.

Charles is preceded in death by his wife Joyce, parents Charles and Belle Jane Barnes, sister, Charlene Sharpnack and brother-in-law Mitch Sharpnack, daughter Celeste Barnes, Grandson Hilton Holman, III. (Tray), and Step Son-in-law Gary Murdock.

He is survived by his daughter, Brenda Walker and husband Stack of Palestine; stepdaughters, Sheran Murdock of Ft. Smith, AR, and Theresa Smith of Lubbock; stepson Pastor Bob Neal of Sulphur Springs; grandson, Justin Holman and wife Julie; and two great-grandsons, Tray and Jaxon Holman; eight step-grandchildren; ten step-great grandchildren; and eight step-great-great grandchildren.

The family would like to express kind appreciation to those who cared for Charles at Windermere Assisted Living and Legacy at Town Creek Nursing Home in Palestine, Dr. Sydney Chadwell and Kindful Care Health Hospice.

A private graveside farewell will be held in Borger, Texas.

Memorials may be made to a charity of your choice.