Walter James Barnes

Walter James Barnes

Palm Desert - Walter James Barnes, a long-time resident of The Lakes Country Club in Palm Desert, California, died as a result of injuries sustained when his golf cart was struck by a car.

Walt was born 8 May 1936 in New York City to Agnes and John Barnes. He had an idyllic childhood in the Bronx.

Walt graduated from Fordham Prep in 1954 and the United States Military Academy in 1958, and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Air Force. Walt proudly served his country for 21 years with overseas assignments in Guam, Germany and Saudi Arabia, as well as at various stateside bases.

He retired in 1979 as a Lieutenant Colonel, and went to work for Sundstrand Data Control in Redmond, Washington. He remained there through mergers and acquisitions, retiring a second time from Honeywell International as their Director of Contracts for the Avionics Systems Division in 2003.

Walt spent his "golden years" at The Lakes Country Club in Palm Desert, where he enjoyed his life-long passion of playing tennis along with a new venture, golf. He got a hole-in-one not only at The Lakes but at Twin Lake Village in New Hampshire, where his family vacationed annually. Walt was known as a warm and wonderful man who had an uncanny ability to remember details from every match or round of golf. There was nothing he liked better than a conversation with an old or new friend. He loved sports and it brought him immense pleasure to cheer on his friends and family at their events. He looked forward to his daily, gourmet home-cooked dinner prepared by his loving wife.

Most afternoons he spent joyfully volunteering: tutoring children at local schools, helping at the Barbara Sinatra Center and supporting the election of Congressman Raul Ruiz. He was a long time volunteer at the BNP Paribas Open.

Walt is survived by his devoted wife Ellen and three children from a previous marriage: John Barnes, Wendy Eckman, and Joanne Moore, stepdaughters Elizabeth Gorey and Melissa Gorey, three grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Walt will be remembered as a kind, decent man who was greatly loved and admired by his family and friends.