Austin American-Statesman May 18, 2007
Ruth Anne Barnes Nov. 9, 1914 - May 16, 2007 Ruth Anne Barnes passed into the loving arms of her Heavenly Father and back into the waiting arms of the love of her life, her husband George, in the early morning of May 16, 2007 at the age of 92. Life for this beloved wife and mother began November 9, 1914 in Sabinal, Texas the daughter of Carl C. Blackwell and Verna B. Blackwell. Ruth spent her young life on a ranch in rural Hays County, Texas and started public school in a one-room schoolhouse at Elm Grove outside of Buda. She went on to graduate from Buda high school. She came to Austin in the late 30's and one of her first jobs was as an elevator operator at the Norwood building in downtown Austin. She was married to George W. Barnes on September 2, 1944 and became the loving mother to two sons, George W., Jr. and Charles Michael. She went back to work as a tax clerk for the IRS in the late 60's in order to help purchase a new home for her family. She was a member of Faith United Methodist Church for many years. She possessed a superb vocabulary and loved reading and working crossword puzzles, a practice which she continued right up to the end. Her main love though was working in her yard and growing things. She had two green thumbs and a love for anything that grew. Her yard once won the "yard of the month" prize from the local garden club and she had a sign in the front yard and a small write-up in the local paper. She was so proud of that accomplishment that she continued to speak of it for many years afterward. Her son, Michael, was in the process of having her front yard professionally landscaped so that she could once again have a garden spot to be proud of. Unfortunately she never got to see it. Those who knew her loved her for her gentle disposition, sweet smile and quiet nature. She had a strong will and a very frugal nature and as a result her family never went without anything that was truly needed. If all humanity were as kind and gentle as this woman, the world would be a much better place indeed. Preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, George W. Barnes, Sr., and their son George W. Barnes, Jr., she is survived by one son Charles Michael Barnes of Austin, one sister Mary Jo Malone and her husband James D. Malone of Austin and one "adopted" daughter Sandra Barnes- Ballard and her husband Porter N. Ballard of Covington, VA as well as four grand-children, three great- grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. The family wishes to extend a special thank you to Dr. Jonathon Klocek, Ruth's caregiver and very special friend Linda Ruth Jennings and to the staff of Stone Bridge Health Center and Seton Hospital for their special care and concern for Mrs. Barnes and her family. The family will receive friends from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., Saturday May 19, 2007 at Faith United Methodist Church, 2701 South Lamar Blvd. in Austin with a Celebration of Life Service to follow at 10:00 a.m. officiated by Reverend Sheree Maberry Harris. Interment will follow services at Cook-Walden/ Forest Oaks Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations in her memory be made to Faith United Methodist Church and/or the Salvation Army.