Mr. Silas Kenton Barnes

Silas Barnes, 94, died Tuesday, February 23, 2016. Visitation will be held on Sunday, February 28, 2016 from 3:00 PM until 5:00 PM at Kimbrell-Stern. Graveside services will be held Monday, February 29 2016 at 2:00PM at Andersonville National Cemetery. Rev Will Archibold will officiate. Silas (Si) Barnes left this earth to join his maker on February 23rd, 2016. He is survived by his wife of over 70 years, Ellen, and his daughter, Sissy Luckey. He is also survived by his 6 grandchildren (Todd Stegall, Melissa Hannafey, Stacey Luckey, Maryellen Roberson, Chrissy Schwichtenberg, and Kathy Ciorciari) and 13 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Sheila Barnes Stutsman, son-in-law, Vernon Luckey, his parents, Grace and Ernest, and his sister, Delores. Si, known to many by his nick-name “Tiger”, left a legacy that touched many lives. He was a Golden Gloves boxing champion in his younger years, and his love of the sport endured throughout his life. Si was a WWII combat veteran, WWII POW, and retired Marine Corps Master Sergeant. He was awarded a number of medals for outstanding service to his country, including 2 Purple Hearts and Bronze Stars. He survived over 3 years in captivity as a WWII Japanese POW after being captured on Corregidor. He then came home at the end of the war and married the love of his life, Ellen, on November 3, 1945 after a short courtship. He lived the Marine Corps motto of “Semper Fi” every day of his life. His time as a POW did not harden his heart, as he spent many of his days after he returned bringing laughter, quick wit, and his spunky energy to everything he did. He was a man of strong convictions and opinions, and believed in right versus wrong. Si was no stranger to hard work or service for others. During the depression he was a member of the CCC, and helped build a number of sites across the Midwest. He joined the Marine Corps early in WWII, never backed away from the challenges of being a Marine in his 20 years of service. He followed his Marine Corps career with a career in civil service, leading the way on some of the Corps’ first computers at the MCLB in Albany. After his retirement from the Corps and Civil Service, he continued to give his time to his country and others in the community. He held leadership offices at the local, state, and national level in the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Ex-POW organizations. He contributed many hours of time in not only disaster relief work, but also office and bookkeeping for the American Red Cross. He volunteered with the Retired Senior Volunteer Program to build wheelchair ramps into his early 90s. It was not unusual to see him keep a pace that others half his age were unable to match. He filled the remaining time in his retirement years travelling with his wife, always by car and never by plane. If he wasn’t travelling, he could be found hunting and fishing with long-time friends or family, especially his grandchildren. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend. He will be missed by the many whose lives he touched over the years. To share your thoughts with the Barnes family you may visit our website at www.kimbrellstern.com.

Mr. Silas Kenton Barnes

December 13, 1921 - February 23, 2016