Carl Byron Barnes of Athens, Alabama, passed away on Monday, February 17th at Madison Hospital, at the age of 88. He was born on January 8, 1932 in Giles County, Tennessee to Fred Cleveland and Myrtle Haskins Barnes. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 58 years, Elizabeth Ann Henderson Barnes; two brothers, Fred Barnes, Jr. and Henry Barnes and five sisters, Mary Eubank, Bonnie Waites, Myra Barnes, Eura Mae Springer, and Edith Faye Burnett.
He is survived by his children, Carl Allan Barnes (Deborah) of Muscle Shoals, Gerald Byron Barnes (Joyce) of Harvest, and Dorothy Annette Barnes-Threet (Jerry) of Athens. He is survived by eight grandchildren, Adam Barnes, Paula Barnes, Alana Barnes, Christopher Barnes, Kristin Kowal (Brian), Byron Barnes, Austin Barnes and Matthew Gardner; step-grandchildren Julian Threet and Sydney Rowell (Layke); by two great-granddaughters, Ava Morris and Zoey Barnes and one step-great-granddaughter, Nellie Ruth Rowell. He is also survived by his devoted friends and neighbors Lennie and Mary Thrasher and his special friend and companion Amy Ledford.
Growing up, he became a superior athlete in both baseball and basketball, and was selected as Tennessee All-State guard while attending High School in Prospect, Tennessee. He graduated from Prospect High School in 1950 and married his high school sweetheart in September of that same year. Later that year he joined the United States Navy and served as Hospital Corpsman during the Korean War from November 1950 until August 1954. During his time of service he achieved the rank of Petty Officer, 3rd Class, was awarded the National Defense, Navy Good Conduct, United Nations Service, and Korean Service Medals, and was recommended for reenlistment. After receiving his Honorable Discharge in August 1954, he attended Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, receiving his Bachelor of Science degree in May 1957.
After college graduation, he was employed by numerous Defense Contractors in Huntsville Alabama in support of the Apollo Space Program. He led teams responsible for successful Configuration Management of several engineering contracts to develop the Saturn V Moon Rocket First Stage, which was built and tested at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. The latter part of his career he worked as a teacher, multi-sport coach, and an administrator in the Madison County School system where he retired as Principal of Monrovia Middle School.
In his retirement, he was an avid gardener who enjoyed sharing his produce with friends, neighbors and whoever would stop by to admire his garden, which was bordered by the rows of colorful zinnias he grew each year. He was especially known for his tomatoes of which he was particularly proud and whose quality and sweetness could never be duplicated by anyone in the family.
He had a lifelong love of animals, particularly dogs, and there was never a time when there wasn’t a four-legged friend at his side. To honor his memory and his love of animals, the family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Friends of the Athens-Limestone Animal Shelter, 1701 US Highway 72 East, Athens, AL 35611.
Funeral service will be Saturday, February 22, 2020 at 11 a.m. at McConnell Memorial Chapel with Kenny Baskins officiating. Visitation will be Saturday from 9:30 – 11 a.m. at McConnell Funeral Home. Burial will be at Stella Cemetery in Stella, TN.
Pallbearers will be grandsons, Jimmy Moran and Lennie Thrasher.
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