Forrest D. Barnes, at the age of 90, was called home to be with his Lord on Friday, Sept. 20, 2013, at Denton, TX.. He was born on March 24, 1923, in Enid, OK., to Samuel Wesley Barnes and Ila Mariam Murphy Barnes of Hillsdale, OK. His father died when he was 6. Forrest moved to a farm near Hillsdale in 1931, where he was raised by his uncle and aunt, Ernest and Anna Barnes. He grew up with his older cousin Victor Barnes. Forrest attended grade school through high school in Hillsdale. He enjoyed sports and played on the basketball, football, and baseball teams from the 4th grade until his senior year in high school. He graduated in 1943, and then was called to duty in the Army, where he served in the Military Police in Alaska until he was discharged in February 1946. In the fall of 1946, he enrolled at Northwestern University at Alva, Okla. He met Laura Salsberry at school and they were married on Thanksgiving in 1947. For the next few years, they taught school in the winter and went to school in the summers. In 1951, they decided to go to school full time to get their degrees. He majored in Industrial Arts and earned a Bachelor of Science in the spring of 1952. Their daughter, Roberta, was born in Alva that same spring. They moved to Wichita, KS., in 1952 when Forrest went to work for the U.S. Postal System. Their son, Ernest and second daughter, Ruth were born in Wichita. Ernest was born in 1953 and Ruth in 1955. Forrest always enjoyed sports and coached for many years. Ernest joined the Boy Scouts and they enjoyed camping with the scouts, including the summer they both went to the Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, NM., for two weeks of hiking and camping in the wilderness. His cousin Victor introduced him to radio and electronics at an early age. Later, he received his amateur radio license and he enjoyed talking to friends and family on the radio for many years. He always had a workshop filled with tools, and particularly liked woodworking projects. Forrest worked for the US Postal System for 27 years. He retired in 1979. Forrest and Laura enjoyed RVing and spent summers in Colorado and the winters in south Texas after retiring. He especially enjoyed seeing new sights and traveling to new places. In 1990, they sold their home in Wichita and lived in their RV before settling in Rio Robles Mobile Home Park, in Kerrville, TX., where he lived from 1991 to the present. Forrest was saved by his profession of faith in Jesus death on the cross for the forgiveness of his sins and the belief that Jesus is the Son of God when he was 12 years old. When they moved to Kerrville, he joined the First Baptist Church of Kerrville and has been a faithful attendee since then. He was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, his parents; two brothers, Darrell and Dale Barnes, and two sisters, Ruth Crouse and Donna Beavers.
Forrest is survived by his children, Roberta M. Smith of Justin, Texas, Ernest W. Barnes of Dallas, Texas, and Ruth A. Wycoff of Rowlett, Texas; three granddaughters, Christina Smith, Shandra and Alisha Barnes; two great grandchildren, a niece and nephew.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made in Forrest Barnes name to First Baptist Church of Kerrville building fund (625 Washington St., Kerrville, TX 78028).
Memorial services will be at 3pm, Thursday, Oct. 03, 2013 at First Baptist Church of Kerrville, with Pastor McClung officiating. Burial will be held at 9am, Friday, Oct. 04, 2013 at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio where he will be buried alongside his wife.
