Early Years
In his early years, Bill was a talented athlete, playing basketball,
football, and track. He graduated from Ulysses High School in 1952. He
served in the US Air Force at Reece Air Force Base, Lubbock, Texas, from
1953-1957, where he reached the rank of Staff Sergeant and also managed
the base swimming pools and program. He graduated from Pittsburg State
University in 1963 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education/Industrial
Arts. Bill began his teaching career at Excelsior Springs, MO, and
shortly after started his teaching-coaching career at Emporia High
School. Later, in Lawrence, he taught at Lawrence High School and West
Jr High, where he coached basketball and achieved the longest winning
streak in town. In 1973 he accepted the head coaching job at Hays High
School, where he took the basketball team to the Kansas State Tourney
for the first time in 18 years.
From 1958-1966, Bill and his wife, Jo, managed the swimming pool/summer
recreation program in Ulysses, and started the AAU competitive swimming
program. Bill managed the Holiday Park Swim Pool in Lawrence, KS, and
founded/coached the Lawrence Aquahawks Swim Team from 1967-1978.
In 1976, he left teaching and began building homes and commercial
buildings. Barnes Homes was known for the highest quality of
construction. Bill was an exceptionally hard worker. He was blessed to
have careers that he enjoyed: coaching/teaching youth and
designing/building homes.
Family
William ‘Bill’ Myral Barnes, 88, was born May 11, 1933, in Prowers
County, Colorado, to Katherine (Davis) Barnes and Perry Wendell Barnes.
He passed away August 24, 2021, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, Lawrence,
Kansas. Bill was the oldest of four children. He is preceded in death
by sisters Margie Puyear and Ava Mace, and sister-in-law Sheryl Barnes.
Bill is survived by his wife of 66 years, Josandra ‘Jo’ Colleen (Heyman)
Barnes; daughter Sharolyn Gayle Wagner (spouse: Jay Wagner) of Salina,
Kansas; son William Brent Barnes (Vera Galchenko-Barnes) of Singapore;
grandchildren: William Jacob Wagner (Elle Williams), Dr. Jacquelyn
Christine Wagner (Dr. Lee Weiner), and Johnathan Paul Wagner; three
great-grandsons; brother Homer Barnes (Carlotta); brother-in-law Donnie
Mace; sister-in-law and brother-in-law Pamela and Harvey Loucks; and
many nieces and nephews.
Last Honors
- Friends are invited to a Viewing at Garnand Funeral Home in Ulysses on Friday, September 3, 2021, from 2:00 PM until 8:00 PM.
- A graveside service with military honors conducted by Dexter D.
Harbour American Legion Post #79 will be held at Ulysses Cemetery in
Ulysses, Kansas, on Saturday, September 4, 2021, at 10:00 AM with
Reverend Kelly Gindlesberger officiating.
- A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date in Lawrence, Kansas.
- Condolences may be posted at www.garnandfuneralhomes.com
The family request that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to either:
• The Alzheimer’s Association - Heart of America Chapter
(https://www.alz.org/, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601,
800-272-3900)
• Ulysses Swim Team
• The Lawrence AquaHawks Swim Club (Lawrence Indoor Aquatic Center, 4706
Overland Drive Lawrence, KS. 66049,
https://www.teamunify.com/team/mvsla/page/home, (785) 813-1322) in care
of the Garnand Funeral Home, 405 W Grant Ave, Ulysses, KS 67880.