Darvin E. Barnes

Darvin Edward “D” Barnes, 87, passed away peacefully on Christmas afternoon, December 25, 2025, at Ascension St. Vincent Hospital in Carmel, Indiana, after suffering from failing health. At the time of his passing, Darvin and his wife Sue lived in Westfield, Indiana.

Darvin was born in Princeton, Indiana, on November 3, 1938, to Edward Elmer Barnes and Anna Mae Hurst. His father was born February 5, 1915, in Skelton, Indiana, and his mother was born October 3, 1918, in Princeton, Indiana. The family moved around a lot, and Darvin attended 20 public schools over multiple states.

Darvin’s first job was at Litton Industries making radar wave guides. In 1957 he joined the Army National Guard to become an officer training specialist.

Darvin met Judith Essie Pearl “Judy” King on the front steps of the Nazarene church in Redwood City, California. At the time, he was 19 years old and she was 16. They married on July 3, 1960, at the Redwood City Nazarene church. Darvin and Judy raised a son and two daughters: a third daughter (Cheryl Ann) survived just three days.

In 1965, Darvin enlisted into the U.S. Army, and he went on active-duty October 29, 1966. He served a tour of duty in Vietnam and later a tour in Korea. During his military career, Darvin was posted to duty station in Washington State, Texas, North Dakota, and Washington DC. He was ultimately promoted to full Colonel, and he was awarded a Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, and many other medals, bars and ribbons. At one point, Darvin led the largest battalion in the U.S. at Fort Bliss, Texas. During the Iran hostage crisis 1979 – 1981, Darvin worked in the Pentagon as Chief of the Iran Hostage Returnee Division.

Darvin earned his undergraduate degree in Psychology from a university in Texas in 1972. He went on to earn two Masters degrees in Personnel Management and Business Administration, and he completed those programs in 1979. While overseas in Vietnam, Darvin suffered a severe case of strep throat. This eventually caused his kidneys to fail, requiring a kidney transplant.

A perfect match was found from a Michigan woman whose name happened to mirror Darvin’s wife, “Judith Barnes.” The transplant was performed at Wilford Hall Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, in early 1997, despite an ice storm that almost prevented the procedure.

Ultimately, Darvin survived nearly 29 years on the kidney transplant, which was a miraculous accomplishment. However, his disability forced him to retire early from his service in the Army, interrupting his path to General, and this was a tremendous shock to him. He separated from the Army on September 9, 1987, after a thirty-year military career (22 years active and 8 years inactive). He was honored at a retirement ceremony on September 30.

Darvin and Judy loved to host gatherings of family, friends, and fellow service members at their home. They also enjoyed traveling, for years driving their motorhome throughout the U.S., and they cherished taking grandchildren in their motorhome across the country. Darvin and Judy also traveled to Kenya to assist with building sanctuary and dorm buildings for the Africa Nazarene University in Nairobi.

Darvin’s favorite hobby was painting, and he produced many unique works of art throughout the years. He volunteered his time to teach oil painting, watercolors and sketching to family members and various organizations. He also collected duck figurines of all kinds, and he enjoyed buying ducks during his many travels. He and Judy also liked to go to estate sales and auctions, and they found many unique items.

Darvin became a Christian at the age of 13 at the First Church of the Nazarene in Decatur, Illinois, and he loved the Lord Jesus Christ. Darvin taught adult Sunday School classes, and he served on the boards of multiple churches as well as the Olympia Union Gospel Mission. He was licensed in the New Mexico District of the Nazarene Church to preach the Word of God in churches throughout the district. Most recently, Darvin attended the non-denominational Northview Church in Westfield, Indiana.

Darvin leveraged his handyman expertise and business degree to support key building projects. He was instrumental in the construction of the current site of the Mountain View Nazarene Church in Tumwater, Washington. He was also involved in the founding of the Community Christian Academy/Northwest Christian High School in Olympia, Washington. Darvin served on the boards of a number of non-profit and for-profit organizations, including the Helstrom Foundation and Washington Business Bank. Before and after retirement, Darvin also spent considerable time and energy managing dozens of rental properties in Washington State and Indiana.

On July 3, 2010, Darvin and Judy celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a large group of family and friends. In recent years, Darvin and Judy simultaneously owned homes in Olympia, Washington; Carmel, Indiana; New Harmony, Indiana; and Sun City, Arizona. They enjoyed spending time with their children and grandchildren and making regular visits to Bayview Thriftway in Olympia for donuts. On many occasions, they invited friends and family to their historic A. C. Thomas House in New Harmony. Darvin and Judy began to consolidate homes by moving from Olympia to Carmel in 2017. Darvin also sold the New Harmony house in 2017 and the Sun City house in 2021.

Darvin’s beloved wife Judy passed away on July 14, 2019, after a long battle with dementia and cancer. She and Darvin were married for 59 years.

In late 2023, Darvin met Sue Duff in his condo community center, and they married on August 28, 2024.

Darvin and Sue enjoyed painting and gardening together, traveling throughout Indiana, and playing games with friends.

Darvin was a devoted and loyal husband and father who loved his family dearly. He was a proud, accomplished, disciplined man who earned the respect and admiration of all those who knew him.

During his adult years he served as a peer model and an example of the highest standards. He showed a high work ethic, continually active, willing to lend a helping hand and running circles around those much younger than him.

Darvin is survived by his wife Sue, son Charles, daughters Heidi and Tammy, eight grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, brother Rodney and sister Marcia. He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife Judy, his daughter Cheryl, and his brothers Donald and Robert.

Visitation will be held at Crown Hill Funeral Home, located at 700 W. 38th St., Indianapolis, IN 46208. The first visitation is scheduled for January 4, 2026, from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. A second visitation will take place on January 5, 2026, from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm. The funeral service will follow at the same venue on January 5, 2026, starting at 1:00 pm, Burial will take place at Crown Hill Cemetery with full military honors.