James Elmer Barnard

Our dear father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and business partner, James Elmer Barnard, died at home on November 14, 2014 from metastatic colon cancer. His wife, Ramona, predeceased him. His family includes daughters Claudia Barnard and Karen Martz (Glenn), grandsons Kyle Voge (Sarah) and Ryan Voge (Jessica), granddaughter Kendra Martz, great-grand children Natalie, Lucas and Owen Voge, and his business partner of 65 years, Elwyn Kinney (June).

Dad was born in Lamar, Colorado on January 23, 1922 to Claude Elmer and Lalla Cobb Barnard. He was an only child and his father died when he was three years old. A few years later he went to live with his Grandma Barnard and his Uncle Lem on the Barnard farm. When he was thirteen, he moved to Dallas, OR to live with his Uncle Lem. Dad graduated from Dallas High School in Dallas, Oregon in June1940 and then went into the Army Reserves that fall.

On December 7th, 1941 he was in training at Fort Lewis Army Base - his infantry was the first shipped out to the Pacific after that fateful day. He fought in New Guinea leading a platoon of men. While there he contracted malaria and was sent back stateside. After recovering from the malaria he was sent to an Army base in Arkansas to train Army personnel preparing for D-Day because of his experience fighting in the jungles of New Guinea.

After the war, thanks to the GI Bill, Dad enrolled at Oregon State College to study industrial arts education. He made friends with another Army veteran, Kenny Lenaburg, who invited him to his family home in Salem for July 4th weekend. Kenny set him up with his favorite sister, Ramona, and that weekend resulted in their marriage on August 30th, 1947 that lasted 66 years.

Our parents moved to Beaverton in 1949 so that Dad could start his teaching position at Beaverton High School. Dad also taught a woodworking class to adults in the evening that fall and he became friends with one of his students, Elwyn Kinney. They began working together on construction projects in the summers when school was out and after three years of teaching, in June 1952, they both left the teaching profession and started working as full-time carpenters. On June 9, 1953 they signed a partnership agreement to start Barnard and Kinney Building Contractors that continued until they retired in 1986. The firm built many custom-built homes, churches, commercial buildings, the Japanese Garden Pavilion, and the marketplace and condos at Salishan. Their partnership continued after their retirement as they managed their property investments.

Dad always stepped up in his life. He attained the rank of Eagle Scout in high school. He stepped up in military service during World War II and afterwards he served in the reserves and retired after 22 years with the rank of Major. He stepped up in his community by serving the churches he attended as congregational president, property committee chair, etc., actively participating in the Beaverton Kiwanis, serving on the Architectural Committee of the Lutheran Northwest District Office for 35 years, serving on the Tualatin Park and Recreation Board for fourteen years, serving on the Board of Construction Appeals for 22 years, serving on the City of Beaverton Board of Design Review for a year. He received the Golden Hammer Award for meritorious service of the fire safety house by the Beaverton Kiwanis, the Beaverton Area Chamber of Commerce J. Arthur Young Award for Outstanding and Dedicated Service to the Community and its people in 1977, and the Valley Times and Beaverton Area Chamber of Commerce First Citizen Award in 1986 “for unselfish and untiring efforts contributing so generously toward making this community a better place in which to live”.

Dad loved adventure, learning and giving. While dating, he and Mom climbed Mount Hood and recorded their names in the book on top. He enjoyed camping, fishing, (especially for salmon with Ramona at his side), hunting with the guys, taking long walks, golfing, reading, traveling and last, but not least, to root for the Oregon State Beavers. He and Mom believed in not only sharing their time but their resources too, especially for the Oregon State University Valley Library and at Concordia University. We also want to note that Dad loved Tabasco Sauce, which went on everything he ate!

The family is very grateful to the caregivers and nurses of Caring Heart, and to the staff at Providence Hospice for their compassionate and respectful care of both our father and mother.

Family and friends are invited to attend a memorial service Saturday, December 13, 2014 at 10:30 AM, at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Tigard, OR. A private burial will be held at Sunset Hills Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that remembrances be made in James E. Barnard’s name to support the OHSU Knight Cancer Challenge. Checks may be made payable to the OHSU Foundation and mailed to: OHSU Foundation, Mail Stop 45, PO Box 4000, Portland, OR 97208-9852.

Arrangements provided by Pegg, Paxson & Springer Funeral Chapel