J. Wesley Barnes, PhD

John Wesley Barnes, passed away on December 23, 2023, in Austin, Texas, at the age of 78. Born on February 28, 1945 in Portsmouth, Virginia, Wes was the son of John Barnes, Junior, and Mary Elizabeth Collum. He grew up in Corpus Christi, Texas, and was the first member of his family to attend college. The first All-State football player from Corpus Christi Mary Carroll High School, he was awarded a football scholarship to the University of Texas at Austin, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. He went on to complete graduate school at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, where he was awarded an MS in Industrial Engineering and Ph.D. in Operations Research and Industrial Engineering in 1970 at the age of 25.

Wes joined the faculty of The University of Texas at Austin in the Department of Mechanical Engineering in September 1974, became the Cullen Trust Professor for Higher Education in Engineering and served for 39 years until his retirement in 2013. The author of over 100 books, papers and reports, Wes was an internationally recognized authority in his chosen field. His legacy includes more than 20 Ph.D. students and more than 40 MS students who completed their studies under his mentorship. Wes Barnes was named to the UT Department of Mechanical Engineering Academy of Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame in 2006.

While in high school, Wesley met Susan Jalene Geron, who became the love of his life. They both attended the University of Texas and married on June 3, 1967. After graduate school in Arkansas and living in Indianapolis, Indiana, for four years where Wesley worked for Bell Labs, they returned to Austin in 1974. Wes and Susan moved to Pflugerville, Texas, in 1993 and proudly and happily celebrated their 56th anniversary this year.

Wes was a devoted member of the Round Rock Presbyterian Church. A beloved husband, father and grandfather who will be forever remembered for his integrity, honesty, and basic love of life and the simple things of life, Wes set the example for all who knew him even briefly.

Wes is survived by his wife, Susan Barnes of Pflugerville; his two children, Kelley Barnes and Erin Barnes of Pflugerville;two grandchildren, David and Una Schreck of Pflugerville; brother-in-law, Lamont Geron of Corpus Christi, and brother-in-law Stephen Geron and wife Jane and their sons, Stephen Adam Geron and Jason Geron and family of San Angelo.

A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Monday, January 8, 2024 at the Round Rock Presbyterian Church, 4010 Sam Bass Rd, Round Rock, TX 78681.

To share memories of John Wesley Barnes with his family, please visit www.cookwaldencapitalparks.com