William Joseph Bill Barnes, 82, of Savannah, Georgia and formerly of Atlanta, Georgia and Philipsburg, Pennsylvania, passed away peacefully July 13, 2014, at Spanish Oaks Retreat and Hospice, Savannah, Georgia. William was born on January 7, 1932, in Philipsburg, Pennsylvania, a son of the Late Joseph Alexander and Lois (Dunsmore) Barnes. Bill was also preceded in death by one brother, John Alexander Barnes, in addition to his parents. Bill is survived by his wife of 49 years, Martha Ann Marty (Jones) Barnes; two sons, Jeffrey Barnes of Savannah, Georgia and John Barnes of Melbourne, Australia; and four grandchildren: Carly, Cameron, Loren and Parker Barnes. Bill attended the Valley Forge Military Academy, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania; he was a graduate of the former Philipsburg High School, Philipsburg, Pennsylvania and he received his bachelor’s degree from The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina, where he was a member of Band Company. Bill enlisted in the Marines after graduation and then served with the USMC Reserves until he retired with the rank of Major. He would later work for the U. S. Department of Education in Atlanta as a special investigator and mediator. In 2004, the 40th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act, he was part of a group recognized in a special ceremony in Washington D.C. as a Civil Rights Champion. Bill was a volunteer docent for many years at the National Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum. The last event he attended, before his illness took over, was a memorable flight for him in a World War II Era B-17, arranged by the Museum.. Bill held a lifelong interest in collecting World War II memorabilia and parts of his collection are on loan to the Eighth Air Force Museum. The family would like to extend its special thanks to all those at Spanish Oaks Retreat and Hospice for their compassionate and expert care. The funeral service and interment will be in Philipsburg Cemetery, Philipsburg, Pennsylvania. Remembrances may be made to Spanish Oaks Hospice; 8510 Whitfield Avenue, Savannah, GA. 31406 Online condolences in Bill’s memory may be submitted to the Beezer-Heath Funeral Home, Philipsburg, PA at www.beezerheathfh.com Semper Fi! Beezer-Heath Funeral Home Philipsburg, PA Savannah Morning News July 16, 2014 Please sign our Obituary Guest Book at savannahnow.com/obituaries.
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