Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home - Walter Frederick Barnes Sr. 1917 - 2015

In Loving Memory of

Walter Frederick Barnes Sr.

1917 - 2015

Services & Gatherings

Visitation:

Thursday, October 29, 2015 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Penwell-Gabel - Louisburg Chapel
120 S Broadway
Louisburg, KS 66053
913-837-4310

Service:

Friday, October 30, 2015 at 11:00 AM
Louisburg First Christian Church 602 N. First Street Louisburg, KS

Interment:

St. Mary's Cemetery
Louisburg, Kansas

Walter Frederick Barnes, Sr., age 98, of Louisburg, KS passed away October 26, 2015 at Louisburg Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center.

He was born two miles northeast of Louisburg, KS on April 17, 1917, the son of Arnold Mark and Stella Anna (Wolf) Barnes. He was united in marriage to Ethel Elizabeth Johnston on June 28, 1943 at Immaculate Conception Church, Louisburg, KS celebrating 72 years together.

Fred graduated from Louisburg High School with the class of 1936. He served his country in the Army Air Force from 1942 through 1946. He owned and operated Barnes Heating & Cooling from 1948 through 1997 working with electrical, television, plumbing, heating and air conditioning installation and servicing residential and commercial properties. Fred was a member of the Louisburg American Legion Post # 250 for 72 years and a member of the Louisburg Senior Center. He was a lifelong musician who played the fiddle, mandolin and keyboard. Fred was once honored as Louisburg Citizen of the Year by the Louisburg Chamber of Commerce.

Survivors include his wife, Ethel, of the home; one son, Walter F. Barnes, Jr., Louisburg, KS; two daughters, Joyce (Keith) Virgin, LaCygne, KS and Teresa (Gary) Haney, Bucyrus, KS; and blessed with six grandchildren; eight great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren.

The family suggests contributions to Louisburg American Legion John P. Hand Post #250, Ladies Auxiliary or Louisburg Senior Center.

To share your memories of Fred or leave a special condolence message for his family, please click the Share Memories button above.

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Memories & Condolences

In the 80s, my husband and I owned a farmhouse next to Bucyrus Elementary. Fred was my go-to when I needed an electrician. He was always so helpful,and professional. I was remodeling a smokehouse once for a guest room. Fred said,"Want me to teach you how to run wiring?" He didn't charge me, he showed me. I have used what he taught me so many times over. I was thinking of him today. So happy he lived a long life!!

~ Barbara Heizman - August 28, 2018

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family. Mr. Barnes was such a part of Louisburg. He will be missed by all.

~ Paul & Linda (Truman) Trimiar - November 5, 2015

It was always a pleasure seeing and visiting with Fred and Ethel when we were both visiting my Uncle Dale and Aunt Lillian. There was a lot of story telling, game playing, and at some point Fred and Uncle Dale (and sometimes if he was around my cousin Mike) would get out their instruments and begin playing. Several hours probably passed while they enjoyed playing guitar, fiddle, or whatever instrument they had. Sending my condolences and healing prayers to the entire Barnes family. Fred always had a ready smile and kind word whenever he saw me. In time, may you find comfort in the memories you have.

~ Pam Waite - October 29, 2015

We lived in Louisburg for just a short year. Fred stopped to introduce himself and gave us bread. We would see him frequently after that. He greatly touched my heart. I looked forward to the conversations. He shared many stories and so much wisdom. We send our sincere condolences to the family.

~ Joelle Holverson - October 29, 2015

I have the daycare near 3rd and Broadway. Mr. Barnes visited us weekly and brought us cookies, breads, and all kinds of baked goodies. Anytime he would see us walking around town or playing at the park he would pull over to chat. The kids could spot him from a mile away and always looked so forward to seeing him. He was always greeted with a 12 kid strong, "Hi, Mr Barnes!" They would wave and flag him down even if he had just visited us. If it was too cold outside he would just stuff the mailbox full of goodies. The big kids were always so happy to find something besides mail in the mailbox. He brought much happiness to my kids and gave them a real sense of community. This town wont be the same without him. :(

Thank you Mr Barnes, you will be missed!

~ Erin Rigney-Ptacek - October 29, 2015

Fred was a special man. One of the highlights of my day when I worked at the bank located in Price Chopper was to go see Fred and his fellow coffee drinkers in the deli. And when I would have electrical problems in my rented house he would help the best he could and probably saved the house from burning down with his expertise.

~ Toni McIntire - October 29, 2015

Fred was a dear soul who was respected and loved by all who knew him. He contributed to his community in so many ways--whether that was serving in officer roles in the American Legion, providing support for needy families, or simply sharing his stories that were always certain to brighten your day. One of his legacies is the beautiful trees which he helped plant many years ago in the American Legion Park. We will always remember him for his beautiful smile, keen mind, and the endless ways he supported us and other members of this community.

~ Chuck and Dory Hammeke - October 29, 2015

Fred was one of my dad's good friends and in my adult years became one of mine as well. He always had a smile, a hand to shake, and a good story or two. I am proud to say that I knew this veteran, family man, and an all around good Joe. I will miss him and our conversations greatly. My thoughts and prayers are with the Barnes family.

~ Paul Cook - October 29, 2015

Our prayers are with the family. Fred has contributed greatly to the community and was a great personal friend of mine. He will be missed by all who knew him.

~ Jack Burcham - October 28, 2015

Thinking back, even when i was in a hurry, I never hesitated to take a few minutes to greet Fred at the Price Chopper parking lot. He would always ask how my family was and how I was doing, even taking genuine interest in what was going on in my life and if I was doing alright. Several times he put certain situations I told him about in perfect perspective, and they are lessons I wont forget. One thing he told me that stays with me:

"If you quit early, you forget how to do it, but if you practice, what ever you do, you'll never forget how to do it, like me and my fiddle."

Even knowing him my whole life and having many conversations, there was still way more to talk and learn from Fred, but honored for the time already spent.

~ Jacob Dow - October 28, 2015

Sad to say that Louisburg has lost another iconic figure this week. I guess that I would have to say that I have known Fred all of my life. He was a friend to my grandparents, Julius and Mary Rosner as well as my parents, Glenn and Helen Wise. After my dad had passed away, he was so wonderful to my mom....seeing that she was never without warm or cool air along with tending to other mechanical issues that she might have.

My last conversation with Fred is one that I probably won't ever forget. I saw him late this summer while at the Louisburg Farmer's Market. We talked about so many things and memories that he had. His mind was razor sharp and his memory much better than my own. One of the things that will stay with me is that he told me how lucky he was to have met the love of his life in Ethel and how grateful he was to have had such a long and wonderful life with her.

May God bless and and your family. Such a loss to your family and our community.

~ Kim Smith - October 28, 2015

Fred was a friend to all. My wife had a friend once that I thought was very strange. ( no longer on this earth). I asked her, babe how can you be friends with such a strange person. She said it's easy to love the Godly, but it's also important to love ALL. That impacted me. Fred was this way and maybe even more so. My last visit with him was in his office, ( his van ) and I will cherish it to the day I die. He knew something about everyone's lives and their past relatives. He was my Mothers step brother, and treated her as any full blooded brother would. I will not get in to our whole conversation but will say one thing that says a lot of him. Some people we discussed, passed and living, he knew some negative things in their past. He would say, there is more to that story, or that I could say some more. But he never went there. He said we all have things in our past we may be ashamed of, and would love a do over if we could. That is a man of high integrity and respect for all. All who knew Fred was blessed and we are all a little better person because of knowing him . RIP dear friend and step uncle. Harold Hendrickson

~ Harold Hendrickson - October 28, 2015

Fred was my first employer, back in '61 or '62 when I was around 10 or 11 years old. I think he hired me as a favor to my parents, to get me out of their hair and keep me out of trouble on Saturdays and during the summer.

I had absolutely no knowledge of any of the work he and Freddy did nor did I have a skill of any sort. They soon fixed that.

Some of the work was unpleasant, such as installing forced air furnaces in old houses which only had crawl spaces underneath them. To run ductwork to all the rooms, many times required that you dig a trench for clearance for the pipe (and yourself) in the most claustrophobic, dirty, spider and bug infested conditions you can imagine. I didn't *like* it, but I didn't mind it, either, because Freddy and Fred were right there doing the same thing. Fred wouldn't ask an employee to do something that he himself wouldn't do. Fred was one of the best bosses I ever had.

Fred had my respect for all the rest of his days. He had a keen sense of observation and a wry sense of humor. One day he was sitting in his car parked at Price Chopper, and unknown to me, was watching me struggle with returning a movie to the Red Box machine. I was not having any luck and made some kind of futile gesture toward the sky. Fred piped up and said, "And you used to fly airplanes?" In six words, he conveyed a succinct message that was not only humorous but encouraging at the same time.

One of the last conversations I had with Fred was at St. Mary's cemetery in which we talked, not about people buried there, but about his love of music and how important playing music was to him. Fred was a multi-faceted man.

Fred has fulfilled his life's mission and moved on, as will we all in due time. He served his country, married a good woman, raised a good family, and led a life which made other people's lives better, including mine. One cannot do much better than that. Fred will be remembered for generations to come and will be sorely missed. He now belongs to the ages and to the legends of Louisburg.

May he rest in peace.

~ C. E. Purvis - October 28, 2015

Our deepest sympathy to all the Barnes family. Your are all in our thoughts and prayers.
Fred was always someone we loved to visit with. He would always remember someone from our family from long ago and tell such wonderful stories about them. He always had a smile on his face.
We will cherish our memories of Fred always.

~ Lonnie & Rosie Cutshaw - October 27, 2015