Obituary of Reverend John Addison Barnes
Rev. John Addison Barnes, age 85, passed away on Thursday, October 15, 2020 at the Bridgeport Health Care Center in Bridgeport. He was born on August 9, 1935 in Buckhannon, WV to the late Edward Gorby Barnes and Mary Vestine (Lowe) Barnes. After moving to Cincinnati, OH, John graduated from the Ohio State School for the Blind before attending Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, OH. He went on to study theology at Emory University and served as an Elder and Pastor in the West Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church.
Before serving in the ministry, John had a Big Band radio show on Saturday afternoons in Cleveland called “The Big John Special” using the Benny Goodman hit of the same name as his theme music. In 1959, John married Jacqueline Byrge in Cincinnati, OH. Following John’s ordination into the ministry, the young couple served a number of congregations across West Virginia over 38 years: Bramwell, Corinth, Logansport, Farmington, Rowlesburg, Cairo, Parsons, Johnson Ave. (Bridgeport), Belington, Big Tygart (Mineral Wells), Red Hill/Murphytown (Parkersburg), Blue Jay/Beaver, Lesage, Man, and Walnut St. (Franklin). Over the course of his ministry in West Virginia, John worked to increase the access and inclusion of individuals with handicapping conditions. He served two quadrennia on the United Methodist Church General Conference’s Communications Committee (UMCOM), where he introduced national legislation to grant universal access and inclusion for the handicapped in the United Methodist Church. After his retirement, John became a proud inductee of the Ohio State School for the Blind Hall of Fame.
He is survived by two brothers, Terry (Carol) Barnes and Gene (Marquetta) Barnes, and one sister, Sandra (Darrell) Loar; three sisters-in-law, Mary Jane (Jim) Hansel, Dot (Gordon) Taiclet, and Janice Francis; a daughter, Teresa (Stephen) Musgrave; a son, Johnathan (Amy) Barnes; five grandchildren, Charlotte Barnes, Elizabeth Barnes, Grace Musgrave, Dami (Tyler) Critchfield, and Somi (Kevin) Luo; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. John was preceded in death by his parents; his parents-in-law, Jasper “Jack” and Lou (Rich) Byrge; his beloved wife of 47 years; his brother, Edward (Joan) Barnes; and his sisters-in-law, Betty (Gordon) Springer and Joan (Bob) Johnson.
A memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations to the virtual church services at Bridgeport United Methodist Church (251 Worthington Drive, Bridgeport, WV 26330) or to the Ohio State School for the Blind (5220 N. High Street, Columbus, OH 43214) are encouraged.
Condolences may be extended to the family at www.fordfuneralhomes.com. The Barnes family has entrusted the care and arrangements to the Ford Funeral Home, 215 East Main Street, Bridgeport, WV.
