ELWOOD - Robert M. Barnett, 93, of Elwood, died July 10, 2007, in Community Parkview Care Center, Elwood, after a brief illness.
He was born July 28, 1913, in Richvalley, to Lewis Milton and Ethel Votaw Barnett. On May 15, 1937, in Arlington, he married Winona L. Heath, who survives.
He was a hatchery manager for Cass County Farm Bureau, Logansport, and plant manger for H&N Poultry Farms, Warsaw. He graduated from Linlawn High School, Wabash, and attended Indiana Central College, now known as the University of Indianapolis. He served in the World War II U.S. Navy as a storekeeper on the USS Beatty Destroyer in the Atlantic Ocean. He was a faithful member of the United Methodist Church, Richvalley, Angola, Wabash, Logansport, Warsaw, Elwood and Sarasota, Fla., with friends all over the map. He was a member of Warsaw Optimist Club.
Also surviving are a son, Dr. Joseph F. (and wife Mavis) Barnett, Elwood; two sisters, Virginia Mendenhall, North Manchester, and Mary Frances Bell, Dayton, Ohio; a sister-in-law, Ruth Barnett, Wabash; a brother-in-law, Ray Bell, Dayton; two grandchildren, Anna Barnett, Columbus, Ohio, and David (and wife Anna Styers) Barnett, Oak Ridge, Tenn.; a great-granddaughter, Gillian Styers-Barnett, Oak Ridge; nieces and nephews: Raeanna Merritt, Ann Jones, Leigh Baer, Susie VanZant and Steve Bell; special friends: Julie Hughes, Jim and Rhonda Luurtsema, Roger and Kathy Gregg and Tom and Becky Moser; and was considered a grandfather by all the neighborhood children. He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Phillip E. Barnett; and a brother, Milton Barnett Jr.
Services will be at 7 p.m. today at Copher-Fesler-May Funeral Home, Elwood, with the Rev. William Mathys, former pastor of First United Methodist Church, Elwood, officiating. A graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Friends Cemetery, Wabash.
Calling is from 2 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home.
The family of Robert Barnett would like to thank Community Parkview Care Center, Dr. Steven Gatewood and the staff of the Park Place Assisted Living for their kind and caring service.
Memorials to the Hand Bell Choir at First United Methodist Church, Elwood.
Condolences may be sent to www.copherfeslermay.com
