Louis “Pa Lou” Barnes

Waterville – Louis Carroll Barnes, 89, of Waterville passed from this life to the next on Monday, November 5, 2018. He was born on February 3, 1929, in Waterville, a son of Vera (Holt) and Archie Barnes. He graduated from Lawrence High School, Class of 1948, enlisted in the US Marine Corps in 1950 and received a Purple Heart for combat wounds that saw him hospitalized for over a year.

Lou was a lithographer with the Waterville Morning Sentinel his entire career and served as Union President. His love of sports lead him to become a football official for over 41 years, and was recognized in 1984 for his Outstanding Service as President of the Maine Association of Football Officials; in 1998 he was recognized by the Waterville Board of Football Officials for 41 years of Unselfish Service and received the Football Official Recognition Award from the State of Maine Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame. He was also recognized on many occasions for his 30 years as a lacrosse official and for his 18 years as a softball umpire.

Lou enjoyed watching sports, especially “his” Washington Redskins, playing golf and being true to his character as an outgoing man with a constant smile on his face, always ready to help anyone in need, and a genuine, loving husband, father and step-father.

Lou is survived by his wife, Estelle Verzoni-Barnes, whom he married in 1993; his children: LouAnn Gorman, Charles Barnes, Joanne Barnes, Paul Barnes, Ronald Barnes; his step-children: Peter, Richard, Stephen and Angelo Verzoni; his grandchildren: Richie, Ian, Angelo and Anthony; as well as his sister Joanne Barnes Donahue. He was predeceased by his first wife Lucille Barnes in 1986.

A time of gathering and reception will be held on Tuesday, November 13, 2018 from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. at Veilleux Funeral Home, 8 Elm Street, Waterville. A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, November 14 at 10:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church, 1 Park Street, Waterville with burial following at 12 noon at the Maine Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery, 289 Civic Center Drive, Augusta, ME. Please visit www.veilleuxfuneralhome.com to view a video collage of Lou’s life and to share condolences, memories and tributes with his family.

For those who wish, donations may be made in Lou’s memory to a special fund for Vets without money at: Department of Veterans Affairs Center, Veterans Affairs Voluntary Service #135, 1 VA Center, Augusta, ME 04330