Ray Barnard

Ray Barnard, 86, of Kingston, died Tuesday, March 8, at his home. He is survived by his beloved wife of 66 years, Colleen Barnard; children: Mary Nancy Martin, Ramona and Rick Holt, and Margaret and David Hayes; grandchildren: Margaret Miller; Lara, Julia, and Joseph Holt; Alyson and Matthew Hayes; and great-grandchildren: Amanda, EJ, and Christian Melendez; and Maddie Sievert and Ethan Lininger. He is preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Josephine Barnard, and his grandparents, E.E. and Mary Barnard. A lifetime resident of Roane County, Mr. Barnard’s ancestors have been recognized by the East Tennessee Historical Society as a “First Tennessee Family,” having been settlers in Tennessee prior to statehood in 1796. Mr. Barnard graduated from Roane County High School. He attended St. Norberts College in Wisconsin and Marshall University in West Virginia. He also trained in a number of mechanical engineering programs through Borg-Warner, IBM, and Smith-Corona. He was the founder and owner of Kingston Business Machines, a local business which he operated from 1963 until 2009. He also owned and operated Office Essentials for many years in Rockwood. As a businessman, he was well known for supporting the area’s law enforcement, medical emergency personnel, and the local VFW chapter providing donations or services to promote their important missions. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the 75th Division in overseas wartime assignments in England, Belgium, and France, including the Battle of the Bulge. He was awarded three Bronze Stars and was qualified as an Expert Marksman. Following the wartime hostilities, Mr. Barnard served as a convoy lead, evacuating US soldiers from the Rhineland to ships that would bring them home to their stateside families. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made in Ray Barnard’s memory to Kingston United Methodist Church (212 W Church St, Kingston, TN 37763), First Baptist Church Knoxville Broadcast Ministry (510 W Main St, Knoxville, TN), or the American Cancer Society (871 Weisgarber Rd, Knoxville, TN). A Celebration of Life service will be held at Kyker’s Funeral Home, 350 West Race St., Kingston at 2:30 p.m. (DST) on Sunday March 13, with family receiving friends beginning at 1:30 p.m.

Ray Barnard

March 8, 1925 - March 8, 2011