Bruce Elwood Barnett (1953)

BARNETT, WRIGHT, MENDENHALL, APPLEGATE, COOK, GIBBONS

Posted By: Ida Morse (email)
Date: 1/4/2006 at 21:45:22

Earlham Library Obituaries
Earlham, Iowa
October 1953

BRUCE E. BARNETT
Memorial Service, October 25, 1953

Our meeting together in the memorial service has been prompted by the passing of one from our midst, and well known and endeared to many. Thus in memory of Bruce E. Barnett, Christian brother, husband, and father, we would pause to worship our Lord,-the Lord he loved,-and to receive comfort and divine grace.

Bruce Elwood Barnett, son of Elwood and Sadie Barnett, was born near Earlham, Madison County, Iowa, December 24, 1886, and passed from this life on October 21, 1953, at his home near Linden, Iowa, at the age of 66 years, nine months, and 27 days.

In the year 1902, as a lad of fifteen years, he moved with his parents to a farm northwest of Linden. The most of his life was lived in this area, and in the vocation of farming in eastern Guthrie County and western Dallas County.

On January 19, 1908, he was united in marriage with Florence Celine Wright, also of Linden. To this union were born six children; Paul W Barnett of Salem, Oregon; Celine, now Mrs. Floyd Mendenhall of Hay Springs, Nebraska; Wilma, now Mrs. Dwayne Applegate of Dexter, Iowa; Marie, now Mrs. Otha cook of Linden, Iowa; Robert W. Barnett of Earlham; and Rollin B. Barnett of Cambridge, Iowa.

The remembrance of this loved one is the more precious because of his staunch Christian life and his devotion to God and to his church. From the time of his conversion in youth and the establishment of a Christian home after his marriage he sought ever to live consistently and to be always ready to give a testimony for Christ.

He was a life-long member of the Friends Church, and served many years as elder, as Sunday School superintendent, and as a teacher in Sunday School. A part of this service was rendered in the Linden Friends Church, and later in the Bear Creek Friends Church of which he was a member at the time of his death.

He leaves in sorrow by his sudden departure his life companion and six children; one sister, Lelah, Mrs. C. F. Gibbons of Linden, Iowa; two brothers, W. Corbin Barnett of Des Moines, and Ashel H. Barnett of Marion, Indiana; fifteen grandchildren, many other relatives, and a great host of friends over a wide area.

"If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now in Christ risen from the dead and become the first fruits of them that slept. For us in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order; Christ, the first-fruits; afterward they that are Christ's at His coming." (I Cor. 15:19-20, 22-23)

Funeral service was held Sunday, October 25th at the Bear Creek Church with Rev. and Mrs. Lawrence Sams officiating. Interment: West Linn cemetery near Linden, Iowa.

Music was by Alma Mapes, Gertrude Conrad, Oren Hadley, and Frank Parker. Berniece Hadley was accompanist. Berneita Patience played organ music.

Casket bearers were Leonard Cook, Walter Cook, Morse Applegate, Ed Jones, Fred Noland and Lloyd Mendenhall.

The flower committee was Pauline Jones, Dell Cook and Leah Cook.