Joy and Alan Barnes

Joy and Alan Barnes

After 62 years of marriage, Joy Margaret Barnes (née Taylor) and Alan Herbert Barnes departed this life within a day of each other, Joy on the evening of Sunday, September 21st, and Alan in the afternoon of Monday, September 22nd.

Alan was born in Elizabeth, N.J., in 1932 to Herbert and Edith Barnes, who immigrated to the U.S. from England. He attended the University of Virginia where he graduated with a BA in Psychology. Alan served in the U.S. Army and then went on to a career in human resources. He retired from Reynolds International in Richmond, Virginia, in 1996.

In 1960, Alan met Joy on his travels to visit his parents in the village of Histon, England. Joy was born in 1937 to Algernon and Constance Taylor. She attended the Perse School in Cambridge, then studied Latin at the University of London. She received her Masters in English Lit at VCU. Joy would use her degree to teach Latin and English at VCU, U of R and J Sargeant Reynolds, eventually retiring at the tender age of 81.

Joy and Alan were married at the Histon Baptist Church in 1963. In 1969, they moved back to the U.S. with their first two children, James and Vicki, in tow. Their third child, Libby, was born in 1970 in Tuscumbia, Ala. From there the family lived briefly in Hot Springs, Ark., before settling in Bon Air, on the southside of Richmond.

Alan was active in Scouting for many years and was awarded the Silver Beaver for distinguished service. Both Alan and Joy were officers in the International Club, a social group for people with overseas connections from all over the world.

In 1978, Joy was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, yet she continued to stay active and teach, her loving husband always by her side. In 2019, the couple moved to the Los Angeles area to be nearer their kids and grandkids.

Joy and Alan are survived by their three children, James, Vicki and Libby; and six grandchildren, True, Charlie, Grace, Georgia, Clare and Josh.