Frederick "Fred" John Barnes

January 16, 1932 - May 18, 2012

Benton Harbor –Frederick “Fred” J. Barnes, 80, of Benton Harbor, passed away late Friday, May 18, 2012, at Royalton Manor in St. Joseph. Funeral services celebrating his life will be held at 11:00 A.M., on Thursday, May 24, at the Dey-Florin Funeral Home, 2506 Niles Ave., in St. Joseph, with Pastor Ann Marie Kneebone officiating. Burial will follow at North Shore Memory Gardens in Hagar Shores. Visitation will be held Wednesday evening from 5:00 until 8:00 at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Hospice at Home. Messages of condolence may be sent to www.florin.net. Fred was born on January 16, 1932, in Benton Harbor to Joseph and Mable Barnes. He married his wife Margaret Bradley on June 5, 1955 in Benton Harbor. Together they celebrated 53 years of marriage when she preceded him in death on July 7, 2008. Fred proudly served his country in the U.S. Army and was very proud of being a Korean War veteran where he saw combat. Fred earned the title of Corporal in the Army infantry. He retired from All Phase Electric after 40 years of service in 1994. In his earlier years, he was active in MARS radio and was a ham radio operator with is call number, WA8ZNV. Fred was a member of the Berrien County Skywarn and the BARA Radio Club. He was also a Life-Member of the Korean Veterans of Southwest Michigan. For the past 3 years he has been a snow-bird going to Bartow, Florida. Fred is survived by his 3 daughters, Peggy (Lee) Foster of St. Joseph, Barbara Lear of Dowagiac, and Doris (John) Wiltfong of Benton Harbor; 10 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; special niece, Stella (Pete) Green of Dowagiac; nephew, John (Patsy) Riley of Dowagiac; and by his special friend, Lil Rogan of South Bend, IN and her family. In addition to his parents, Fred was preceded in death by his brothers and by his great-grandson, Chase Lear-Carter.