Clifton Robert Barnes, born in Walton, NY March 4, 1938, passed away peacefully on Friday May 18, 2018. He was pre-deceased by his sister Catherine, father Clifton, brother Charles, step father Paul Franklin, and his mother Veta Franklin.
As a child, Bob and his family moved to Boulder City Nevada where his father was employed by the US Civil Service Commission as a master carpenter that worked on the Boulder Canyon/Hoover Dam project
After his sister and father passed, the family moved back to the Norwich area. As a young man, Bob joined the US Navy and was stationed at Norfolk, Virginia and initially assigned to the aircraft carriers, the USS Enterprise as well as the USS Intrepid as an engine room/boiler operator, traveling the world. Bob was also involved in the Underwater Demolitions Teams and Naval Intelligence prior to his exit from the service.
After returning from the armed services Bob spent time working in Oneonta as a photographer for the Oneonta Daily Star, and then transitioned to and spent his life working in Norwich, then Ithaca as a jack-of-all-trades maintenance man for several different employers. He retired after working 40+ years for Triphammer Development as Property and Asset Manager. Bob was such a fixture at Triphammer Mall, that many years ago, an artist was commissioned to paint murals inside of the mall, and Bob was immortalized in these murals, that can be seen today near Ace Hardware.
Bob married the love of his life, Mary Monday on September 6, 1975. Together they raised three sons. Bob enjoyed photography, military aircraft, and was an avid movie buff.
Bob is survived by his wife of 42 years, Mary Barnes; sons Mark McKeever, Shannon McKeever (Anthony), and Chad Barnes (Catherine) as well as grandchildren Victoria McKeever, Shannon McKeever, Lucian Earle, Isabella Earle, Vivian Earle and great granddaughter Lilyahna Carson.
Services will be held on Monday, May 21, 2018 from 4 – 6 at Bangs Funeral home in Ithaca, NY. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Hospicare & Palliative Care Services of Ithaca – www.hospicare.org/donate.
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