Claude B Barnes

With great sadness, we announce the passing of our father, Claude B. Barnes, Jr. on April 29, 2021.

Claude married Barbara Jean (Bilger) Barnes on February 2nd, 1957. She preceded him in death on June 22, 2019 after 62 years of marriage.

Claude was born in Kansas City, Kansas, to Claude Barnes, Sr. and Lyda Fae Clark. He grew up in a large family, the 5th in a family of six. He graduated from Rosedale High School in 1952. Claude graduated from the University of Kansas in 1957 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He enjoyed his early career working with the space program at Cape Kennedy and NASA. Later, he made a big change moving his family to Colorado and began working in the coal mining industry.

Claude loved to sing! He sang with many choirs, barbershop choruses and quartets over the years. He was a member of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America (SPEBSQSA) for over 50 years. He sang with the Houston Tidelanders, Colorado Sound of the Rockies and most recently was a member of the Windcrest Chorale.

He was always interested in working with wood, starting with Soap Box Derby cars and then moving into building his own furniture and even a sailboat! He began carving as a hobby in 1977. Over the years he became very skilled and carved many beautiful and realistic birds and fish. Over the past few years he displayed his many carvings of birds and fish at Wind Crest. He never sold any of his work, preserving his carving works of art for his family.

Claude and Barbara moved to Wind Crest in 2014 and enjoyed the company and activities with old and new friends aboard the Wind Crest cruise ship.

Claude is survived by his younger brother, Lawrence E Barnes of Eudora, Kansas; four children: Carrie Melon (Anthony) of Littleton, CO, Connie Groven (Paul) of Olympia,WA, Alan Barnes of Lakewood, CO, and Timothy Barnes (Kate) of Highlands Ranch, CO; nine grandchildren: Shannah Groven of Lacey, WA, Aaron Melon (Corinne) of Lakewood, CO, Allyson Flynn (Kevin) of Olympia, WA, Kendra Leigh (Joshua) of Colorado Springs, CO, Marissa Rhine (Greg) of Osan AFB, South Korea, Kristen Melon (Ethan) of Littleton, CO, Jessica Groven of Spokane, WA, Sophia Barnes of Highlands Ranch, CO, Jacob Barnes of Highlands Ranch, CO; and 6 great-grandchildren: Stella Zamora, Ainsley Flynn, Romina Zamora, Lyle Flynn, Lorelei Rhine and Cypress Rhine. Cypress was born on the same day a few hours before Claude passed.

Claude loved encouraging young people to study and work hard to reach their full potential. He enjoyed meeting and supporting the students that worked at Wind Crest. The family suggests that donations can be made in his memory to the Wind Crest Scholarship Fund, 3235 Summer Wind Lane, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129. Please mark in the memo of your check "In memory of Claude Barnes"

A celebration of life for Claude will be held on Sunday, June 6, at 2 PM in the auditorium at Wind Crest.

Erickson Wind Crest Community

Second Neighborhood

High Line Overlook Building

Arts & Entertainment Auditorium

2975 Summer Wind Lane

Highlands Ranch, CO 80129