Ina Grace Barnes

Ina Grace Barnes, age 97, of Mission Viejo, California passed away on Friday, June 27, 2025. Grace was born at San Antonio Hospital in 1927 to English immigrants. Her father was Ernie Hall of “Ernie’s Place” in Old Town Alta Loma. Her experience of growing up during the Great Depression, and living behind her father’s bar, made Grace loath to waste any resources, be it leftover food or wet paper towels (which should be dried and used again).

After attending Chaffey High School and a year of Chaffey College, Grace married an Army veteran returning from WWII, Lester Barnes. They raised four children in Santa Fe Springs, California: Michael Barnes of Cambria, Terry Barnes of Cambria, Cathleen “Cami” Marchand of Mission Viejo, and Dennis Barnes (deceased).

Grace was very athletic, competing in softball, basketball, and tennis. Even in her last years, as she lost more recent memories to vascular dementia, she was still eager to challenge anyone to a game of tennis or a round of “horse” on a basketball court. Her favorite way to spend her time was gardening. She could bring a dry stick back to a fully blooming fuchsia.

Grace’s family is extremely thankful to everyone who helped care for Grace during her decline. From physical tasks such as making meals, changing Depends, supervising medications, and braiding her long, silver hair to emotional care such as holding her hand, reading to her from her beloved J. Vernon McGee Bible, and posting encouraging notes with Scripture, Grace was blessed by so many kind, loving people.