World War II U.S. Navy Veteran. Served aboard the U.S.S. Comstock (LSD 19) Okinawa
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John P. Barnby (Dad) was born in Owl Creek, Woodson County, Kansas. He was the third of five children born to Harry Fred Barnby and Margaret Veronica (Hillmes) Barnby. He was born on his maternal grandparent's farm. His grandpa, John Hillmes had died in 1900, so he never got to know him. His mother and grandma would tell him stories about his grandpa. His grandparents spoke mostly German. His paternal grandparents, William and Lucy Ann (Chapman) Barnby were of English descent. The 1930 and 1940 U.S. Census shows Dad living in Perry, Woodson, Kansas with his parents and siblings. This was property of his maternal grandparents. His grandma, Elsie Hillmes died in 1940. About 1940, his parents separated. During his teenage years, he worked as a dishwasher (pearl diver, as Dad called it). At age seventeen and having finished school, Dad joined the U.S. Navy. He would send money back home to help out the family. He always cared about family. After the Navy, he worked for the McDonald County Ice Company. He met Dorothy Rose Morgan (Mom) while delivering ice to a café she was working at. She worked part time at the café and also attended school. He attended a trade school on the G.I. Bill to become an automotive mechanic. In 1948, he and Mom were married in Noel, Missouri. Their first five children were born in Noel. Later, they had six more children born in Arizona. In the late 1940's he managed the Phillip's 66 Filling Station in Noel for Melvin Hall. We lived in the house part of the station. We had a garden with peas, green beans and other vegetables. (Dad was always health conscience) We also raised chickens. Dad had asthma and was advised to move to a warmer, drier climate; that's how we ended up in Arizona. He had a job waiting for him in Coolidge at Gammage's Phillip's 66 Garage and Station; that was about 1955. Some of the children were born at the Pinal General Hospital in Florence, AZ, just a few miles from Coolidge. From Coolidge, we went to Winkelman, Arizona. We first lived in "The Flats" as it was called. It was along the Gila River. The houses no longer exist, since it was flooded out in 1993. Dad worked for Lester Peed's Garage which was later bought by Peart Motors. He later worked for Zunich's Garage which was bought by Ernie Williams and later A & A. He had a reputation as being the best mechanic around with his skills, work ethic and honesty. With a growing family, he took a job with more pay at Kennecott Copper Corp. He worked on the company vehicles. We moved a few miles away, where he purchased a new home in a new town called Kearny, built for the mining families. Several of the children were born in Ray, Arizona, a nearby town. Kearny didn't have a hospital at that time. My older sister and I had to ride the bus to Ray for school. The others were taught in the new houses in Kearny until a school was built. We also attended church in Sonora, Arizona until they moved the church to Kearny. Ray and Sonora no longer exist. They became part of the open pit mine. During these early years, we would take family vacations. Dad especially liked to take us camping and fishing. His favorite places were in the White Mountains at various lakes, one being Big Lake. Dad had purchased a few commercial lots in Kearny. He had planned to someday have his own business, an automotive garage. His dream was shattered when he was injured while working under the hood of a pickup. This was a suspicious accident involving an unmanned forklift. This was life changing for him. He had been very active. As time went by and all the children were grown; Mom and Dad moved to Mesa, Arizona. That is where they retired. They were closer to hospitals. They had raised their children in Kearny and it held many memories. We had many family reunions in the "Hawes House" as Mom called it. We were truly blessed with wonderful parents!
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John P. Barnby (Dad) was born in Owl Creek, Woodson County, Kansas. He was the third of five children born to Harry Fred Barnby and Margaret Veronica (Hillmes) Barnby. He was born on his maternal grandparent's farm. His grandpa, John Hillmes had died in 1900, so he never got to know him. His mother and grandma would tell him stories about his grandpa. His grandparents spoke mostly German. His paternal grandparents, William and Lucy Ann (Chapman) Barnby were of English descent. The 1930 and 1940 U.S. Census shows Dad living in Perry, Woodson, Kansas with his parents and siblings. This was property of his maternal grandparents. His grandma, Elsie Hillmes died in 1940. About 1940, his parents separated. During his teenage years, he worked as a dishwasher (pearl diver, as Dad called it). At age seventeen and having finished school, Dad joined the U.S. Navy. He would send money back home to help out the family. He always cared about family. After the Navy, he worked for the McDonald County Ice Company. He met Dorothy Rose Morgan (Mom) while delivering ice to a café she was working at. She worked part time at the café and also attended school. He attended a trade school on the G.I. Bill to become an automotive mechanic. In 1948, he and Mom were married in Noel, Missouri. Their first five children were born in Noel. Later, they had six more children born in Arizona. In the late 1940's he managed the Phillip's 66 Filling Station in Noel for Melvin Hall. We lived in the house part of the station. We had a garden with peas, green beans and other vegetables. (Dad was always health conscience) We also raised chickens. Dad had asthma and was advised to move to a warmer, drier climate; that's how we ended up in Arizona. He had a job waiting for him in Coolidge at Gammage's Phillip's 66 Garage and Station; that was about 1955. Some of the children were born at the Pinal General Hospital in Florence, AZ, just a few miles from Coolidge. From Coolidge, we went to Winkelman, Arizona. We first lived in "The Flats" as it was called. It was along the Gila River. The houses no longer exist, since it was flooded out in 1993. Dad worked for Lester Peed's Garage which was later bought by Peart Motors. He later worked for Zunich's Garage which was bought by Ernie Williams and later A & A. He had a reputation as being the best mechanic around with his skills, work ethic and honesty. With a growing family, he took a job with more pay at Kennecott Copper Corp. He worked on the company vehicles. We moved a few miles away, where he purchased a new home in a new town called Kearny, built for the mining families. Several of the children were born in Ray, Arizona, a nearby town. Kearny didn't have a hospital at that time. My older sister and I had to ride the bus to Ray for school. The others were taught in the new houses in Kearny until a school was built. We also attended church in Sonora, Arizona until they moved the church to Kearny. Ray and Sonora no longer exist. They became part of the open pit mine. During these early years, we would take family vacations. Dad especially liked to take us camping and fishing. His favorite places were in the White Mountains at various lakes, one being Big Lake. Dad had purchased a few commercial lots in Kearny. He had planned to someday have his own business, an automotive garage. His dream was shattered when he was injured while working under the hood of a pickup. This was a suspicious accident involving an unmanned forklift. This was life changing for him. He had been very active. As time went by and all the children were grown; Mom and Dad moved to Mesa, Arizona. That is where they retired. They were closer to hospitals. They had raised their children in Kearny and it held many memories. We had many family reunions in the "Hawes House" as Mom called it. We were truly blessed with wonderful parents!
World War II U.S. Navy Veteran. Served aboard the U.S.S. Comstock (LSD 19) Okinawa
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John P. Barnby (Dad) was born in Owl Creek, Woodson County, Kansas. He was the third of five children born to Harry Fred Barnby and Margaret Veronica (Hillmes) Barnby. He was born on his maternal grandparent's farm. His grandpa, John Hillmes had died in 1900, so he never got to know him. His mother and grandma would tell him stories about his grandpa. His grandparents spoke mostly German. His paternal grandparents, William and Lucy Ann (Chapman) Barnby were of English descent. The 1930 and 1940 U.S. Census shows Dad living in Perry, Woodson, Kansas with his parents and siblings. This was property of his maternal grandparents. His grandma, Elsie Hillmes died in 1940. About 1940, his parents separated. During his teenage years, he worked as a dishwasher (pearl diver, as Dad called it). At age seventeen and having finished school, Dad joined the U.S. Navy. He would send money back home to help out the family. He always cared about family. After the Navy, he worked for the McDonald County Ice Company. He met Dorothy Rose Morgan (Mom) while delivering ice to a café she was working at. She worked part time at the café and also attended school. He attended a trade school on the G.I. Bill to become an automotive mechanic. In 1948, he and Mom were married in Noel, Missouri. Their first five children were born in Noel. Later, they had six more children born in Arizona. In the late 1940's he managed the Phillip's 66 Filling Station in Noel for Melvin Hall. We lived in the house part of the station. We had a garden with peas, green beans and other vegetables. (Dad was always health conscience) We also raised chickens. Dad had asthma and was advised to move to a warmer, drier climate; that's how we ended up in Arizona. He had a job waiting for him in Coolidge at Gammage's Phillip's 66 Garage and Station; that was about 1955. Some of the children were born at the Pinal General Hospital in Florence, AZ, just a few miles from Coolidge. From Coolidge, we went to Winkelman, Arizona. We first lived in "The Flats" as it was called. It was along the Gila River. The houses no longer exist, since it was flooded out in 1993. Dad worked for Lester Peed's Garage which was later bought by Peart Motors. He later worked for Zunich's Garage which was bought by Ernie Williams and later A & A. He had a reputation as being the best mechanic around with his skills, work ethic and honesty. With a growing family, he took a job with more pay at Kennecott Copper Corp. He worked on the company vehicles. We moved a few miles away, where he purchased a new home in a new town called Kearny, built for the mining families. Several of the children were born in Ray, Arizona, a nearby town. Kearny didn't have a hospital at that time. My older sister and I had to ride the bus to Ray for school. The others were taught in the new houses in Kearny until a school was built. We also attended church in Sonora, Arizona until they moved the church to Kearny. Ray and Sonora no longer exist. They became part of the open pit mine. During these early years, we would take family vacations. Dad especially liked to take us camping and fishing. His favorite places were in the White Mountains at various lakes, one being Big Lake. Dad had purchased a few commercial lots in Kearny. He had planned to someday have his own business, an automotive garage. His dream was shattered when he was injured while working under the hood of a pickup. This was a suspicious accident involving an unmanned forklift. This was life changing for him. He had been very active. As time went by and all the children were grown; Mom and Dad moved to Mesa, Arizona. That is where they retired. They were closer to hospitals. They had raised their children in Kearny and it held many memories. We had many family reunions in the "Hawes House" as Mom called it. We were truly blessed with wonderful parents!
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John P. Barnby (Dad) was born in Owl Creek, Woodson County, Kansas. He was the third of five children born to Harry Fred Barnby and Margaret Veronica (Hillmes) Barnby. He was born on his maternal grandparent's farm. His grandpa, John Hillmes had died in 1900, so he never got to know him. His mother and grandma would tell him stories about his grandpa. His grandparents spoke mostly German. His paternal grandparents, William and Lucy Ann (Chapman) Barnby were of English descent. The 1930 and 1940 U.S. Census shows Dad living in Perry, Woodson, Kansas with his parents and siblings. This was property of his maternal grandparents. His grandma, Elsie Hillmes died in 1940. About 1940, his parents separated. During his teenage years, he worked as a dishwasher (pearl diver, as Dad called it). At age seventeen and having finished school, Dad joined the U.S. Navy. He would send money back home to help out the family. He always cared about family. After the Navy, he worked for the McDonald County Ice Company. He met Dorothy Rose Morgan (Mom) while delivering ice to a café she was working at. She worked part time at the café and also attended school. He attended a trade school on the G.I. Bill to become an automotive mechanic. In 1948, he and Mom were married in Noel, Missouri. Their first five children were born in Noel. Later, they had six more children born in Arizona. In the late 1940's he managed the Phillip's 66 Filling Station in Noel for Melvin Hall. We lived in the house part of the station. We had a garden with peas, green beans and other vegetables. (Dad was always health conscience) We also raised chickens. Dad had asthma and was advised to move to a warmer, drier climate; that's how we ended up in Arizona. He had a job waiting for him in Coolidge at Gammage's Phillip's 66 Garage and Station; that was about 1955. Some of the children were born at the Pinal General Hospital in Florence, AZ, just a few miles from Coolidge. From Coolidge, we went to Winkelman, Arizona. We first lived in "The Flats" as it was called. It was along the Gila River. The houses no longer exist, since it was flooded out in 1993. Dad worked for Lester Peed's Garage which was later bought by Peart Motors. He later worked for Zunich's Garage which was bought by Ernie Williams and later A & A. He had a reputation as being the best mechanic around with his skills, work ethic and honesty. With a growing family, he took a job with more pay at Kennecott Copper Corp. He worked on the company vehicles. We moved a few miles away, where he purchased a new home in a new town called Kearny, built for the mining families. Several of the children were born in Ray, Arizona, a nearby town. Kearny didn't have a hospital at that time. My older sister and I had to ride the bus to Ray for school. The others were taught in the new houses in Kearny until a school was built. We also attended church in Sonora, Arizona until they moved the church to Kearny. Ray and Sonora no longer exist. They became part of the open pit mine. During these early years, we would take family vacations. Dad especially liked to take us camping and fishing. His favorite places were in the White Mountains at various lakes, one being Big Lake. Dad had purchased a few commercial lots in Kearny. He had planned to someday have his own business, an automotive garage. His dream was shattered when he was injured while working under the hood of a pickup. This was a suspicious accident involving an unmanned forklift. This was life changing for him. He had been very active. As time went by and all the children were grown; Mom and Dad moved to Mesa, Arizona. That is where they retired. They were closer to hospitals. They had raised their children in Kearny and it held many memories. We had many family reunions in the "Hawes House" as Mom called it. We were truly blessed with wonderful parents!
