Clarence E. Barnes, 88
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Clarence E. Barnes, 88, of Lebanon, Illinois, was born April 15, 1921 in Prairie Grove, Arkansas, and died Friday, January 8, 2010 at Anderson Hospital in Maryville, Illinois.
Clarence served his country with honor during World War II as a munitions worker in the United States Army and participated in campaigns in France, Belgium, and Germany. He was awarded The American Defense Service Medal, The European African Middle Eastern Service Medal with Bronze Arrowhead, and a Good Conduct Medal.
Before his service in World War II, Clarence was a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps and served as a rock chipper and a road construction worker stationed at the Board Corrals Camp in Nevada and the Five Mile Camp in Oregon. After his allowed service time for the CCCs was over, he "rode the rails" during The Great Depression finding work as a cotton and fruit picker. He entertained family and friends with many fascinating stories from this time in his life.
Clarence pursued a lifetime of education both as a student and as a teacher. He received a Bachelor's of Science Degree in Education from Clarkton University and a Master's Degree in Administrative Education from Southeast Missouri State University. He served the Sparta School District for seventeen years including the position of Principal at The Ellis Grove Attendance Center for fifteen years until his retirement in 1983.
Clarence's many interests and endeavors included fishing, Studebakers, nutritional health and fitness, recreational activities with his children and grandchildren, traveling with Wanda Beard, his companion of twenty years, and participating in many theological and political discussions. He became a member of the Theosophical Society of America in 1959. He also was a student at the School of Metaphysics during the 1970s and 80s. At the time of his death, Clarence was the president of The UFO Study Group of Greater St. Louis, a position which he proudly held since 2001.
Surviving are his children, Robert (Ellie) Barnes of Berkley, MA, Quentin (Laura) Barnes of Champaign, IL, Carlena (Daniel) Biggs of Salem, MO, and Victoria Fricke of Troy, IL, five grandchildren, Jennifer (Scott) Randle, Scott (Joanna) Holt, Aaron Fricke, Taylor Turner, and Tessa Barnes, four great grandchildren, Daniel Randle, Riley Holt, Logan Holt, and Marissa Holt, a sister Helen Davis, three brothers, Rev. William Barnes, Fred Barnes, and Elmer Barnes, a companion, Wanda Beard, nieces nephews, other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, William "Riley" and Rosie, nee Holt, Barnes, two brothers who died in infancy, Calvin and Paul, two other brothers, James and Robert Barnes, and two sisters, Esther Boone and Lena McCoin.
Visitation: Friends may call from 2 to 4 p.m., Saturday, January 16, 2010 at Lake View Funeral Home, Fairview Heights, IL.
Funeral: Memorial services will be held at 4 p.m., Saturday, January 16, 2010 at Lake View Funeral Home, Fairview Heights, IL. Upon his request, cremation was to be held. Inurnment will be in the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis, MO.
Memorials are appreciated to the Disabled American Veterans.