Robert J. Barnes

Robert “Jack” Barnes, age 87 of Charlotte passed away October 31, 2014. Funeral services will be at 11:00AM Thursday, November 6th at Durham Memorial Baptist Church, Mr. Gene Boatwright officiating. Visitation will be one hour (10-11AM) at the church prior to the service. Interment will be in Forest Lawn West Cemetery. Mr. Barnes was born in Charlotte April 22, 1927 son of the late Thomas Randolph and Cora Abernathy Barnes. He was a member of Durham Memorial Baptist Church and formerly a long time member of Thomasboro Baptist Church where he served as Deacon, Sunday School Teacher, and served on the Building and Finance Committees. Jack was a graduate of Thomasboro High School, and a member of the marching band Hi-Y Club. He went to work for Piedmont and Northern Railway in Charlotte prior to enlistment in the U. S. Navy in 1944. He served nine months in the Naval Air Base in Kisarazu, Japan with the occupational forces. Jack met Sarah Sloan the same year and they married in 1947. He returned to Charlotte after the Navy and became a train agent in Belmont, NC. He was actively involved in the Kiwanis, Chamber of Commerce, American Legion, Joppa Masonic Lodge #530, and the Scottish Rite. He returned to Charlotte and became Supervisor of station operations (loss and damage). He was promoted to the Safety Division in Raleigh and was responsible for territory in the Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama, and Virginia. He retired in 1985 with 43 years of service with CSX Railroad. Jack was a very generous person and had a love of giving. He was well known for giving peanuts to all his friends at Christmastime. Surviving are his son Robert “Bobby” Barnes and wife, Jill of Denver, NC, grandson, Jackson Barnes, brother-in-law, Oakley McClamrock, and a sisters-in-law, Joyce Sloan and Sue Barnes and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Sarah Sloan Barnes and siblings, James A. Barnes, Miles S. Barnes, Carlisle L. Barnes, Ruby B. Nesbit, and Sue B. McClamrock. In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to Durham Memorial Baptist Church, 1601 Toddville Rd., Charlotte NC, 28214. Offer condolences through www.forestlawnwest.com