Ida E. Barnes

A Visitation will be held on Friday, April 22, 2011 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, 4071 Macon Road, Columbus, GA. A graveside funeral mass will be held at 2:00 PM, Saturday, April 23, 2011 at Parkhill Cemetery, 4161 Macon Road, Columbus.

Mrs. Barnes was born in Reindlitz, Czechoslovakia on September 2, 1920, daughter of the late Ernst Struppe and Ida France. She immigrated to Germany in 1944 where she met the love of her life, Walter E. Barnes, who was stationed there as part of the "Army of Occupation." They married and had one daughter, Vera.

Mrs. Barnes is survived by Vera Abel, RN, BSN (Ret.), her husband, Lloyd Abel, CAPTAIN USN (Ret.), CAPTAIN Delta Airlines, both of Jacksonville, Florida; their daughter, Jennifer Abel, a publicist of West Hollywood, California, granddaughter to Mrs. Barnes; Hansi Mundschenk and Lars Hettwer of Frankfurt, Germany, niece and nephew to Mrs. Barnes. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 35 years, CWO4 Walter E. Barnes, U.S. Army (Ret.).

As a devoted Army wife she made homes in Germany, San Francisco, Alaska and finally settled in Columbus, Georgia in 1964 where CWO4 Barnes was assigned to the First Calvary Division which deployed to Vietnam. She was the director of the Tot Town Nursery from 1968 to 1995; sponsored by the Daughters of the United States Army (DUSA) in which she was a dedicated member. As a non-subsidized U.S. Government facility, her organization and design for its operation became a model for all U.S. Army bases nationwide. Proceeds of her efficient leadership went to fund the Infantry Museum's Children's Room. Always dedicated to the veteran community, Barnes was a member of the Officer's Wives Club in Fort Benning for 45 years. Mrs. Barnes was a dedicated member of the downtown YMCA participating up until her 90th birthday in water aerobics and was also involved very socially in the Gallops Senior Center and the Prime Timers. Mrs. Barnes was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church and Holy Family for over 45 years combined.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the Infantry Museum Foundation for military children ages six to twelve attending the annual summer camp. Donations can be made at www.nationalinfantrymuseum.com, under "Donations." Specify donations as "Ida Barnes Summer Campership."

Mrs. Barnes' power and strength will be missed by all, especially by her family.