Irene Barnes

Irene R. Barnes 87, of Durham NC passed away peacefully on July 15, 2022, at Rex Cardiology Hospital.

She was born on June 11, 1935, in Fayetteville NC, on Fort Bragg Military Base. She was proud to be a military kid and had fond memories of living on the base. At the age of ten her family relocated to Durham, NC to be near their extended family.

She attended Lowes Grove School where she played on the girls’ basketball team and was a jump rope champion. She was also proud of winning a prize for making the best meringue topping for a pie in home ec class.

Upon graduation from Lowes Grove High School in 1953. Irene begin working at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hall in the State Funds Department, as an account tech, where she worked for the same department for 40 Years before retiring. After retirement she took over running her husband’s business until her passing. Her moto was you need to keep working to keep a sharp mind.

Irene loved traveling, cooking, doing crafts, and spending time with her sister Brenda.  They would talk to each other two or three times a day. Irene and Brenda loved to go shopping and sing Elvis’s songs on their adventures. One of their favorite places to go shopping was the Durham Rescue Mission, where they would usually come home with some kind of treasure they found. They were always known as Lucy and Ethel.

She was a charter member of Hope Valley Baptist Church. Over the decades she taught Sunday School, worked on the contribution team, volunteered working in the church office, and helped on the Christmas decorating team.

She was married to Loftin (Dick) W. Barnes for 42 years. For their wedding gifts to each other they purchased new tires for the car for their honeymoon trip, and a cast iron frying pan that is stilled being used today.

Her greatest pride and joy are her two granddaughters, Payton and Kinsley Barnes, who she called her “Angles”, and grand dog Snowball Barnes.  They came to grandma’s house every day of the week to spend quality time with her. It was the highlight of her day. She would always wait outside for the girls to get off the school bus and then help them with their homework. The girls always loved to tell her about their day and what they were doing at their activities. She loved teaching the girls how to cook, and sew. The girl’s looked forward to taking vacation trips with grandma and Aunt Rhonda every summer, where they made wonderful memories.

Funeral Services will be held 2:00 PM Saturday, July 23, 2022, in the Chapel of Hall-Wynne Funeral Service with Revs. Jimmy Camp and Tim Williford. Burial will follow in Maplewood Cemetery.

Friends may visit from 1:00 – 2:00 PM Saturday, July 23, 2022, at Hall-Wynne Funeral Service.

She is proceeded in death by her husband Loftin “Dick” W Barnes, father, Frank L Robbins, mother, Avie H. Robbins, and brother, Donald Robbins.  Irene is survived by her sister, Brenda Morton, her, daughter, Rhonda Barnes, son, Loftin W Barnes Jr., wife Jan, granddaughters Payton and Kinsley Barnes

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Hope Valley Baptist Church, 6900 Garrett Road, Durham NC 27713.

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