Harry R. Barnes
Born in Omaha,
NE, September
24, 1946, to parents Harry Claude Barnes and Jeanné Elizabeth Barnes, Harry R. Barnes spent his childhood in Climax,
CO where he learned to love the outdoors especially hunting, fishing, and downhill snow skiing. The family relocated to New Mexico, first Albuquerque then Grants where Harry attended Grants High School and ran cross country, boxed, rode horses on a western movie set, and also worked part-time at a grocery store where he met his future wife, Carmen A. Clark. At the age of 17, Harry, known as "Butch" to family and friends at the time, enlisted in the United States Air Force where he spent time in Texas, Washington, Thailand, and Vietnam where he supported medical evacuations and transportations during the war. While overseas, he absorbed the local cultures and befriended many. He enjoyed travel and adventure and developed a deep interest in aviation and shared many stories of harrowing flight experiences. He also enjoyed the ocean, bodysurfing, and spearfishing. Harry was Honorably Discharged from the Air Force in 1967 and returned to the family home in Grants. Given his experience as an Enlisted Airman in the Air Force, and his judgment that many Officers were intellectually inferior but outranked Enlisted Airmen simply because they were college graduates, Harry committed to earning a degree and creating a better life for himself and his family. Upon his return, his sense of adventure continued, and he enjoyed racing stock cars at regional tracks and drag racing hot rod cars. He worked underground uranium mining in surveying and mining operations. Most importantly, upon his return he reunited with Carmen and the friendship they nurtured by regularly exchanging written letters during his military service quickly blossomed into a committed relationship culminating in their marriage May 10, 1968. Harry stayed true to his commitment to formal education and graduated from New Mexico State University in May 1973, the first member in his family to earn a college degree. Upon graduation and with a young son and daughter, Harry worked as an Actuary for the St. Paul Insurance company moving his family first to Arlington, TX and then to Indianapolis, IN. A few years of life in the Midwest as an Actuary proved mundane and Harry returned to the high-paced, explosive environment of uranium mining in New Mexico. He worked for several area mines in Mine Management and Production. During this time, Harry and Carmen were blessed with another son and devoted themselves as parents to their three children. Harry’s love of the outdoors and sense of adventure endured, regularly hunting, fishing, boating, waterskiing, dirtbike motorcycling, and coaching sports. When the uranium industry collapsed with the end of the Cold War, Harry found a new professional calling that he practiced for the next 35+ years as a Transmission and Distribution Power Line Engineer. He began this profession with a small firm in Arizona and later worked for a couple Albuquerque based firms. In 2007, he founded Transmission & Distribution Services LLC, that proved to be his professional legacy, employing over fifty people today. He enjoyed traveling and enjoyed great adventures in Argentina, Alaska, and throughout the continental USA. Harry was many things, but perhaps the role he relished most was that of grandfather, known as "Papa" to his four granddaughters. He cherished time with the girls and loved to play games, attend school and extracurricular events, and generally nuture and support their growth. Through it all, he was a man of honor, respect, and integrity. He had a keen and sharp sense of humor, always joking with family, colleagues, and friends to the very end. He was also an active philanthropist and contributed to many local, regional, and international causes.
Harry is survived by his wife Carmen, children Harry Barnes Jr. and wife Sarah, Jeanné Martin and husband Brian, Aaron Barnes and wife Lisa, four granddaughters Isabella, Elizabeth, Amelia, and Emily Barnes, sister Laurie Amos, brothers-in-law Danny Brown and Frank Blatnik, sister-in-law Karen Eldodt, and many nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers are Harry Barnes Jr., Jeanné Martin, Aaron Barnes, Brian Martin, Isabella Barnes and Elizabeth Barnes. Honorary Pallbearers are Amelia Barnes and Emily Barnes.
Celebration of Harry’s life will include a Rosary and Mass Friday, November 19, 2021, 9:30am at the Risen Savior Catholic Church located at 7701 Wyoming Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109 with a reception following at the Event Center at Sandia Golf Club located at 30 Rainbow Road, Albuquerque, NM. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Children’s Cancer Fund of NM at //ccfnm. org/donate/. Military burial will be 10am Saturday morning at the Gate of Heaven Catholic Cemetery located at 7999 Wyoming Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109. Please visit our online guestbook for Harry at www.FrenchFunerals.com.