Robert Eugene Barnes (also known as Bobby Gene, Dugan, Duge, Bob, Daddy, and Papa to his grandchildren) was the grandson of a pioneer family, born August 22, 1929, in the old rock house built by his grandfather, Oratio L. Barnes, five miles east and one mile south of present day Hardesty. He was the son of Wallace and Stella (Richards) Barnes.

Bob and his brothers, living not far from Hackberry Creek and the Palo Duro, loved to hunt, fish, and ride horses,. They also enjoyed singing and playing instruments with their family. As a child, Bob played the ukulele, later playing the guitar - 6-string and bass.

In 1948, he, his youngest sister Betty Jo, and his parents moved into Hardesty, moving into an older house that had been moved in from the country. He attended school at Hardesty until 8th grade when he went to work to support his family while his brothers went to war. Bob returned to school five years later. He drove a school bus the last three years he attended Hardesty school, graduating in May 1949. He continued to drive the bus for two and a half more years.

During that time Bob worked with his brother Richard doing maintenance work at the school. He also helped him build his own house in Hardesty. He helped his brother-in-law Dale with his farming, and worked for others in the community. He helped Cliff Bird build a couple of buildings. He worked for the railroad, the summer of 1951, for one week burning weeds. That was the end of that job! He then went to work for Beech Aircraft in Liberal, Kansas. About three months later, he married Wanda Marlene Booth, also of Hardesty. She, too, graduated from the Hardesty school, and had been a nearby neighbor. They were married only nine months when Bob received his draft notice from the United States Army.

Robert entered the service of his country on February 16, 1953, and took his basic training at Camp Rucker, Alabama. On June 27th, he completed a course in Advanced Individual Engineer Training in the 682nd Engineer Combat Battalion, and received his furlough home. He and only one other gentleman from his company were allowed to stay in the states, and they were sent to Fort Lewis, Washington, near Olympia. During their journey there on the train, the United States signed a peace treaty which stopped the conflict in Korea.

Bob was immediately chosen to become the company clerk for Company A. Fort Lewis was the home of the 44th Infantry Division, 135 Engineer Combat Battalion. Bob advanced to each rank ahead of those on his office lists, with his final promotion to Sgt. (T) Grade E-5 on December 20, 1954. During this time, he received the National Defense Service Medal.

He and his wife, Marlene, resided in Olympia, until Bob's discharge from the service February 15, 1955. They returned to Liberal, Kansas, and Bob returned to Beech Aircraft where he worked until he was offered a job at Groendyke, where he worked for 28 years. Family planning began, and a daughter, Beverly Diane was born in 1956, and a son, Mike (Gary Michael) in 1958. Their first home was at 520 N. Clay. They helped build the new Apostolic Faith Church in Liberal, which was located only two blocks west of there. They faithfully attended all services, and Bob served in the church as a board member, led singing, and sang in the choir, as well as with a men's quartet. The family was janitors of the church for many years.

In 1962, they purchased a new home at 1504 Clay Court. In 1975, they sold that home and purchased Marlene's Grandfather Graves' old home 5 miles east of Hardesty, Oklahoma. (This land, too, was a homestead, and the house was built in 1916-17.) They had it moved north across the highway onto family land and renovated the house. During these two years, they lived in a small travel trailer which they had purchased, living in the B & B Trailer park on Hwy. 54 west of Liberal, and then moving down onto the property where the house was located. After finishing the "new" house, they lived there for 28 years. Bob retired from Groendyke in 1983.

Bob loved all of God's creations. As a child, he had a coyote and loved to ride his horse. He had many dogs - Pepper and Duke were his favorites. His boss, several friends from church, and their spouses went deer hunting each year near Lake City, Colorado. But he never shot another deer after raising his own Baby Buck. With his family, he often vacationed in Colorado where he loved to go fishing. In 2015, Bob accomplished a lifelong goal when he vacationed in Vermont - his 50th state to visit.

In 2004, Bob and Marlene sold their home and moved to 1425 Brookside Parkway, in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. They loved living in that area. It had a little stream in the back where they enjoyed their time feeding birds and squirrels. They attended the Nazarene Church and made many new friends and loved their new neighbors.

Ten years later, due to their failing health, they moved into a nice retirement home called Prairie Rose off of Riverside in Tulsa. In 2017, they moved further down the street into the Mansions. There's a sign as you enter the complex that says "The Mansion - Welcome Home". On September 18, 2018, he went home to "his mansion in Glory".

He is survived by: His wife of 66 years - Wanda Marlene Booth Barnes; his children: daughter, Beverly Leete and husband, Charles of Wichita, Kansas and son, Gary Michael Barnes and wife, Lou Ann of Bixby, Oklahoma. His grandchildren: Nathan Barnes and wife, Amby - Tulsa, Oklahoma, Megan Stanbury and husband, Spencer - Gilbert, Arizona, Taryn Leete and wife, Gina - Rose Hill, Kansas, and Bren Leete and wife, Lauren - Sand Springs, Oklahoma; his great grandchildren: Nigel and Kamari Stanbury, Roman and Atlas Barnes, Garrison and Walker Leete, and Kyia Kelly.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Wallace and Stella Richards Barnes; brothers: Richard, John, and Lee Barnes; and sisters: Francis Jensen, Helen Crall, Ava Lou Bingley, and Betty Jo McClanahan.

Funeral services will be Monday, September 24, 2018, 2:00 pm at the Hardesty Community Church, Hardesty, Oklahoma. Interment will follow with military honors at the Hartville Cemetery, SE of Hardesty. Services are under the care of the Bunch - Roberts Funeral Home of Guymon.

Memorials in memory of Bob can be made to the Hartville Cemetery and will be accepted at the Bunch - Roberts Funeral Home, PO Box 1112, Guymon, OK 73942. Friends can sign the online guestbook and leave condolences at www.bunchroberts.com.