Donnie Cleo Barnes' Obituary
Donnie Cleo Barnes …. graduated from this life early Wednesday morning, February 25, 2015. He was 96 years old. A longtime resident of Dallas, Don was born on May 5, 1918 in Bonham, Texas. His amazing wife, Glenna, predeceased him on March 5, 2001. Don lovingly cared for her as she fought a debilitating disease over the course of the final seven years of their 56 year marriage. They raised five godly children, all of whom married godly spouses. Don also leaves behind 16 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. He was introduced to one of his great-grandbabies just hours before his passing. Don was an independent soul from an early age. He initiated his education and often walked miles to school in a desire to learn. Times were tough for his family. His father was always working, his mother was sick, and Don found himself raising his siblings. He pursued various odd jobs. He married local girl, Glenna Weston, when he was 26 and she was 17. In the early 1940’s, a local airfield became the north Texas training center for Army pilots preparing to fly overseas. The field was a focal point of this small farming community and Don became an apprentice airplane mechanic, which led to working on WWII trainer planes. After the War, Don made his way to Dallas, with his young wife and child in tow, where he found work with a new commercial airline called, Braniff. He retired from Braniff after 36 years. In their early marriage years, it was Glenna who helped to smooth out his rough edges and by example, led Don to Jesus Christ. Once he became a Christian there was no turning back. He was totally immersed in the scriptures. He and Glenna conducted numerous Bible studies with scores of people. They grew their family up in the Northside Church of Christ in Dallas, where Don eventually became an elder. This was a missions-minded church and one committed to widows and orphans. In 1967, the Northside Church elders determined there was a need to help place orphaned children in Christian homes and nurture families by establishing what became ‘Christian Services of the Southwest’, now called ‘ChristianWorks for Childen’. As one of the founders, Don was a leader in this vision. He and Glenna were also foster parents themselves. Don Barnes believed that the voice of a child matters. In 1987, the three Northside Church elders (Don Barnes, Jim Cathey, and Earl McGuire) determined a need for a church in the Coppell area, so they chose to close the doors at Northside and launch a new church plant in the upper mid-cities of the metroplex. This became Riverside Church of Christ. Don was a quiet leader. He believed in the power of prayer. He loved people. His wry smile and slow speech won people over, especially when he handed them packages of Juicy Fruit and super bubble. Don was ‘The Gum Man’. This was his trademark. The Barnes family wishes to express special gratitude to the Riverside Church for the outpouring of love and service to Don, especially over the past two years as he faced health challenges. Words do not give justice to the joy Riverside has been to our mother, father, and entire family. Don leaves behind his brother, Charles, and his sister, Nelda. He also leaves a legacy through his children, Larry and wife, Beverly (of Dallas, TX); Kerry and wife, Barbara (of Vancouver, WA); David and wife, Cheryl (of Edmond, OK); Donna and husband, Alan (of Keller, TX); and Cindy and husband, Brent (of Edmond, OK); along with grandchildren, great-grandchildren, the Riverside Church family, and hundreds of dear friends. The visitation for Donnie Barnes will be from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Friday, February 27, 2015 at Restland Funeral Home. The service for Donnie will be held on Saturday, February 28, 2015 at 11:00 AM at The Riverside Church of Christ in Coppell, Texas. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Restland Funeral Home and Memorial Park, 13005 Greenville Avenue, at Restland Road, Dallas, TX 75243. In lieu of flowers, the family invites gifts to be made in Don’s name to the ministry of ‘ChristianWorks’, 5440 Harvest Hill Road, Suite 140, Dallas, Texas, 75230. (www.christian-works.org).
What’s your fondest memory of Donnie?
What’s a lesson you learned from Donnie?
Share a story where Donnie's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Donnie you’ll never forget.
How did Donnie make you smile?