Bernice A. Barnes

Bernice Alberta Barnes passed away Monday, December 3, 2012 at Mt. Miguel Covenant Village in Spring Valley at the age of 98. Bernice was born October 16, 1914 in Macksville, Kansas, the sixth child of 12 born to Cleveland and Agnes Carter. She was united in marriage to Jack Richard Barnes on August 25, 1940 in Wilmore, Kansas. He preceded her in death in the summer of 1980. They were married for 40 years.

Bernice spent her childhood growing up on the family farm in Wilmore, Kansas. Music was a large part of her life and as early as age 5 she began playing the piano and accompanying her sisters and others at local school and church performances. She received her teaching credential and worked as a school teacher in a one-room schoolhouse in Kansas and continued as a substitute teacher when she and Jack moved to San Diego in 1945 during his service in the United States Navy.

Bernice continued using her talent as a pianist accompanying the choir at College Center Covenant Church. She passed her love of music on to her family, giving and encouraging music lessons for her children and grandchildren. Ragtime, honky tonk, boogie woogie and the tunes of Scott Joplin were some of her favorites.

In addition to her husband Jack, Bernice was preceded in death by 10 of her brothers and sisters and her oldest daughter, Katherine Elizabeth Poindexter. She is survived by her son, Glen Barnes and his wife Katie Astor Barnes of Jamul, CA, and her daughter, Karen Barnes Johanson of San Diego, CA, 6 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren, 4 great great grandsons, her sister Barbara Buxton of Sacramento, CA, and many nieces and nephews across the U.S.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Community Outreach Program at College Center Covenant Church, 6126 Adelaide Ave, San Diego, CA 92115.