Submitted by: Dan Rich

Helen Ruth Barnes

Dec. 30, 1914 - July 7, 1997

South Bend Tribune 7/9/1997

Helen Ruth Barnes, 82, of Fairington Circle, South Bend, Ind., died following a brief illness at 8:32 a.m. on Monday, July 7, in Ingalls Memorial Hospital, Harvey, Ill. Mrs. Barnes was a clerk in the former Robertson's Department Store, and retired from Head Start in 1979 as an aide. She was born on Dec. 30, 1914, in South Bend, to Carrie (Brown) and Elmer Rodgers.

On Jan. 16, 1937, in South Bend, as Helen Ruth Rodgers, she married Charles K. Barnes, who preceded her in death on Aug. 21, 1991. Mrs. Barnes is survived by a daughter, Sharyl R. Inlow of South Holland, Ill.; three sons, C. David Barnes of Sparta, N.J., R. Michael Barnes of Utica, Mich., and Robert W. Barnes of Bristol, Ind.; and by 11 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. She was a member of the First Christian Church, South Bend, the Christian Women's Fellowship, and was an active board member and Sunday school teacher at the church for many years.

Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday in the First Christian Church, 1101 E. Jefferson Blvd., South Bend, with Rev. William Wassner officiating. Friends may call from noon to 1 p.m. in the church parlor. Mrs. Barnes' body has been donated to the Anatomical Education Program of the Indiana University School of Medicine. Memorial contributions may be made to the First Christian Church.