Henry Blue Barnes of Raleigh, NC, passed away January 28, 2011 at The Oaks at Mayview, Raleigh, NC, after a period of declining health. He was 88 years old. Henry (Hank) was born in Savannah, GA on January 25, 1923 to Ruth Blue Barnes and Benjamin Shields Barnes, Sr. After grammar school in Savannah, he attended high school at the Baylor School in Chattanooga, TN, graduating in 1941. Henry then attended The Citadel in Charleston, SC for two years before joining the Army, serving three years in the European theater. After his Honorable Discharge at the end of the war, he continued his education at UNC-Chapel Hill where he was a member of Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity. There he met Gwen Hughes from Tabor City, NC and they were married after he graduated in 1948. The couple first lived in Wilson, NC where Henry started his career in the tire business and then later moved to Washington, NC where he ran Barnes Tire Company. Henry later went into mutual funds sales and moved the family to Raleigh in 1967. There he worked in stock, portfolio, and most lately, insurance sales with Colonial Life & Accident for more than thirty years. As a young adult, Henry was an active member of the Jaycees and later, the Rotary Club. He was a member of the West Raleigh Rotary Club for over 40 years. He enjoyed UNC football and basketball and was a member of the Raleigh Sports Club. Another passion of his was military history and was a member of the Civil War Roundtable. Proud of his Scottish heritage, he joined the St. Andrews Society of Savannah, GA. Henry is survived by his wife, Gwen Hughes Barnes, of Raleigh; daughter Sally Barnes and her husband Hal Shigley of Raleigh; son David Barnes and his wife Elizabeth Babcox of Cleveland, OH; daughter Gwendolyn (Gwen) Richie and her husband Mark Richie of Raleigh; grandson Hank Uzzell, his wife Anna, and their son Henry, of Charlottesville, VA; grandson David Uzzell, his wife Meri, and their daughter Holland and son Jackson, of Pittsburgh, PA; granddaughter Jennifer Shigley of Raleigh; granddaughter Emily Shigley of Raleigh; granddaughter Laura Barnes of Dallas, TX; grandson Scott Barnes of Wilton, CT; granddaughter Claire Richie of Raleigh, and granddaughter Kelly Richie of Raleigh. Henry is also survived by his older brother Benjamin Shields Barnes, Jr. of Savannah, GA; and his younger brother William Albright Barnes of Monroe, GA. Henry’s life will be celebrated at a memorial service at West Raleigh Presbyterian Church, 27 Horne St. in Raleigh, on Saturday, February 5, 2011 at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of Wake County 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607. Tags: 1945
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