Barnes, William Joe

William J. Barnes, age 78, passed away as a result of a heart attack on Friday, May 11th at Medical City Hospital in Denton. Born November 23rd, 1939 in Denver, Colorado, he grew up in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, graduating from College High School. He attended Transylvania, College in Lexington, KY. He worked at Phillips Petroleum Company in Bartlesville as a computer analyst from 1961 to 1965. He then moved to Columbus, Indiana where he was a systems analyst for Hamilton Cosco. In 1965, he moved to Dallas, Texas and worked for The Army and Air Force Exchange Service until his retirement in 1999. In his various positions with The Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES), Mr. Barnes traveled and lived in various parts of the world including Germany, Great Britain, France, Italy, Denmark, Vietnam, Japan, and Korea. At one point he was stationed at Fort Knox, Kentucky, in charge of distribution and management services for military PX systems in the central United States  When he retired as Vice-President of Corporate Integration he was supervising PX operations around the globe. At the time of his retirement he had reached the civilian equivalent of a general in the military. For his work at AAFES, he was awarded the Department of Defense Distinguished Service Award which was delivered by then Vice President Dick Cheney in 1991. Mr. Barnes joined the Midway Hills Christian Church in 1970. While serving at Midway Hills, which he was proud to proclaim was an open and affirming church, Mr. Barnes brought his business organizational skill to a local food pantry and worked tirelessly to see that meals were provided to the homeless and disabled. Mr. Barnes held many positions at the church including Chair of the Elders and Trustees.  He also served proudly as a Stephen Minister, working one-on-one with those seeking spiritual guidance and support. He is survived by three children, Suzan (and Don) Seilinger, Summerville, SC, John Barnes (and Katie Sprang), Paeonian Springs, VA, and Rebecca Barnes-Cook (and Warren Cook), of Oak Point, Texas. He has four grandchildren: Austin James Allen, Summerville, SC, Roman Moore Lincoln Barnes, Rockville, MD, Alan Sprang, Charleston, SC, and Uriah Seilinger, Summerville, SC. He left one great grandchild, Isaiah James Allen, Summerville, SC. He is survived by one sister, Mary Klayder (and David Brown) of Lawrence, KS. He was preceded in death by his father, Charles E. Barnes, in 1961, his step-father, William Lacey, in 1989, and his mother, Dorothy Routh Barnes Lacey, in 1992 and his brother John R. Barnes, in 2013. His memorial service will take place at 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 19 at Midway Hill’s Christian Church. In lieu of flowers, his family wishes you to donate to North Dallas Shared Ministries. Arrangements are under the direction of ARIA Cremation Service and Funeral Home 19310 Preston Road Dallas, Texas 75252 214-306-6700