Died. Edward Raymond Barnes. Born May 14, 1944, in Poland, Ohio, community activist Ed Barnes passed away November 11, 2010. He is preceded in death by his parents, Elizabeth and Kenneth, and his older brother, Warren. After attending Kalamazoo College in Michigan and Youngstown University in Ohio, Barnes moved to San Francisco, where he was employed for many years with Southern Pacific Railroad as a labor-relations negotiator.
During his time in San Francisco, Barnes worked with the YMCA as a calisthenics instructor, was a member of the San Francisco Men’s Chorus, and also became a volunteer on the AIDS ward at San Francisco General Hospital, which became a model for AIDS hospices nationwide. His hospital work allowed him to develop his gift for providing loving end-of-life care with humor and compassion to patients, their families, and those who were shunned by loved ones.
After retiring, Barnes moved to Houston where he spent many years giving of himself to his church, neighborhood, animal advocacy groups, and the AIDS community as a patient mentor at the Thomas Street Clinic and volunteer at the Bering Support Network.
Memorial funds have been established through the Thomas Street Clinic Patient Mentor Program, the Bering Support Network, and The Cat Doctor. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Barnes’ honor to one of these programs.
A celebration of Barnes’ life is set for December 11, 1 p.m., at the Montrose Counseling Center, 401 Branard Street, Houston, Texas 77006.
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