John Frank Barnes

Brigadier General John F. “Jack” Barnes, USAF (ret.) passed away at the age of 87 on April 5, 2012, in Austin, Texas. He was born in Anderson, Ark. in 1925. As a proud Arkansan, he often fondly recalled his childhood on Lafferty Creek and squirrel hunting with Rusty, his beloved dog. In 1944, this young newspaper boy and soda jerk volunteered for military service as an aviation cadet. After earning his wings at age 19, he flew a multitude of aircraft including B-25s in the Pacific theatre.

After the war, he earned a journalism degree from the University of Arkansas and was a reporter on the police beat for the Little Rock Gazette. In 1951, he was recalled into active military duty, where he flew 55 night interdiction combat missions in the A-26 Invader, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Following his Korean tour, Jack married the best looking-gal in Delaware, Becky Reed, in 1952; they raised four accomplished children – Jeanne, Julie, Jodie and Bill. The family was transferred to Europe, where Jack transitioned into jet fighters. Returning again to the U.S, he attended the Air Command and Staff College. Then, during the Viet Nam War he commanded the 559th “Billy Goat” F-4 Phantom fighter squadron at Cam Ranh Bay, where he flew 100 combat missions over North Viet Nam.

After serving at Tactical Air Command headquarters, he assumed command of the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing stationed at Davis-Monthan AFB, Tucson, AZ. This was a job he loved with unbridled passion and considered it his greatest Air Force accomplishment. Subsequently, he commanded the USAF Special Operations Force at Eglin AFB. After serving as a deputy chief of staff for the United Nations Command at Yongsan, Korea, he retired from the Air Force.

Jack and Becky, with their son Bill, settled in Austin to be near their daughters, Julie and Jodie, who were students at the University of Texas. The couple spent the next 37 years enjoying each other, their family, friends, hill country home and golfing. Jack maintained his friendships from the Air Force and created many more in Austin. He was a kind man that loved his family, people of all backgrounds, his country, his pets, and the wildlife that populated his backyard. The little house wren that nested under the deck will miss him, as we all will.

Jack is survived by his wife Becky, daughters Jeanne and her husband Harv, Julie, Jodie, and his son, Bill and his wife Betsy, sons Jack, Bennett and Mason.

A memorial service is to be conducted at half past one o’clock in the afternoon on Monday, the 9th of April 2012 in the Colonial Chapel at Cook Walden Funeral Home, 6100 North Lamar in Austin, TX.

Immediately following all guests are invited to greet the family during a reception at 6302 Nicklaus Place, Austin, Texas.

The family requests donations be made to the Austin Humaine Society.

Condolences may be made at www.cookwaldenfuneralhome.com