Earl was born November 17, 1922 in High Point, NC to the late Earl Bruce Barnes, Sr. and Willie Royals Barnes. He was a 1940 graduate of High Point High School and attended High Point University in 1941-9142. Earl was a US Army veteran of WWII, serving 30 months in the European Theatre.
After the war, Earl joined the J.C. Penney Company of High Point, NC. He later managed the J.C. Penney Stores in Oak Ridge, TN, Bowling Green, KY, Hickory, NC, Fayetteville, NC, and Raleigh, NC. Earl opened the North Hills Penney Store in 1968 and managed it until his retirement in 1980, serving 36 years with the J.C. Penney Company. He was so proud of “His North Hills Store” and his “400 or so employees.” He always said his Penney Associates were the greatest asset in running the Penney Store and he counted them his friends.
Earl’s business achievements, civic and community involvement included: board of directors for the Chamber of Commerce in Bowling Green, KY and Hickory, NC; board of directors for the NC Retail Merchants Association and was chairman of the board president 1983-1984; presented the “Manager of the Year” award in 1970; board of directors of the North Hills Merchant Association and was president in 1974; active role in the North Raleigh Rotary Club and served as president 1976-1979; district governor of District 771 Rotary International 1981-1982; awarded the prestigious Rotary Paul Harris Award in 1973; The News and Observer “Tar Heel of the Week” in 1983.
Following retirement from J.C. Penney Company, Earl was owner of Boylan-Pearce Department Store of Raleigh from 1980-1984; King Department Store of Bristol, TN from 1981-1984; and Grey Stone Development Company of Boone and Blowing Rock, NC from 1984-2000.
Earl was a member of Hayes Barton United Methodist Church of Raleigh, where he was a member of the Cameron Class, serving as both Sunday school teacher and Sunday school Superintendent.
Earl is survived by his wife, of 66 years, Doris Morgan Barnes; son, Ricky Lee Barnes; daughter, Amy Barnes Hambright and her husband, James; granddaughter, Morgan Hambright; and grandson, Benjamin Hambright.
A funeral service will be held 11 am Monday, March 18, 2013 at Hayes Barton United Methodist Church, 2209 Fairview Road, Raleigh, NC 27608. The family will receive friends 10-11 am prior to the service at the church. Entombment will follow the service at Floral Gardens Memorial Park Mausoleum in High Point, NC at 3:00 pm.
Condolences may be sent to www.BrownWynne.com
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