Barnes, Delbert Leroy (1934-1988)

BARNES, EWING, CHEYNE

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 10/22/2021 at 17:51:52

Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, Iowa, Friday, March 11, 1988

Blairsburg man takes own life

Delbert Leroy Barnes, 53, of Blairsburg, died Wednesday of asphyxiation, according to Hamilton County Sheriff, Jerry Farnham.

Farnham said that yesterday, the Barnes family had reported him missing after he did not come home Wednesday night. "At 11 a.m. yesterday, we then got a call from a farmer southwest of Blairsburg, who had found him in a car inside his barn," Farnham explained.

County medical examiner, Dr. E.K. Lowary, examined the body and determined the cause of death to be suicide. Farnham said a pipe from an open window in the car had been connected to the exhaust pipe.

Funeral services for Delbert Leroy Barnes, 53, of Blairsburg, will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, March 12 at the United Church of Christ Congregational in Blairsburg, the Rev. LeRoy Franz officiating. Burial will be in the Blairsburg Cemetery.

Leroy Barnes died Wednesday March 9. Friends may call at Foster Funeral Home in Webster City after 5 p.m. today until 9:30 a.m. Saturday.

Delbert Leroy Barnes, son of Bert and Nellie (Ewing) Barnes, was born Dec. 30, 1934 in Lehigh. He was educated in the Blairsburg school system, where he graduated in 1953. On June 2, 1956, he married Lorraine Cheyne at Williams. He farmed in the Blairsburg area for 19 years, and was presently employed with Webster City Products Company. He was also a substitute rural mail carrier.

Barnes is survived by his wife, Lorraine; two sons and one daughter-in-law, Scott and Joanne Barnes, and Dennis Barnes, Blairsburg; two daughters, Cinda Barnes, Blairsburg; and Karen Barnes, Webster City. He is also survived by two grandsons, Derrick and Nicholas. He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister.

Leroy Barnes was a member of the United Church of Christ Congregational, where he served in areas of the church.