Alton E. Barnes, age 97, passed away Saturday, September 25, 2021, just a few weeks shy of his 98th birthday.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Friday, October 1, 2021 in the Moore-Rose Funeral Home Chapel in Floydada. Rev. Mark Snowden officiated.
Interment followed at the Floyd County Memorial Park in Floydada.
Visitation was held from 5 to 6 p.m., Thursday, September 30, 2021 at Moore-Rose Funeral Home of Floydada.
Arrangements were under the personal care of Moore-Rose Funeral Home in Floydada.
Alton was born October 21, 1923 in Hill County, Texas to Oscar L. and Maude (Watson) Barnes. The farming family soon moved to Paducah, Texas, where Alton attended school.
World War II broke out, and Alton proudly joined the U.S. Army in February 1944 and was sent to Europe, where he served until his discharge in December of 1945. He then moved to Hale County, Texas, where he went into farming for himself.
Post war surplus airplanes were being sold for $500 a plane, and he and his soon-to-be lifelong friend, Macon Ulmer, split the cost and bought a plane together. They taught themselves to fly and became a part of the Cotton Center Flying Farmers.
Alton soon met a young nurse from Pennsylvania who was working at the Hale Center Hospital. He married Flo Skweres on January 19, 1951. They were blessed to spend 51 years together. Following the birth of daughters,Cindy and Arleen, the family moved to Lockney where he farmed until his retirement.
He was an avid supporter of the Lockney Volunteer Fire Department and loved going on their annual fishing trips. With more time on his hands, he acquired a love for golf, which he continued to play for many years.
He and his wife, Flo, loved to spend time fishing and eventually had a place at Possum Kingdom where they could share their love of the sport with their grandchildren. Somewhere along the way, Alton developed a talent for playing pool. At a family reunion at the age of 92, he not only bested all the competition, he stayed up until midnight doing it!
As much as he enjoyed his free time activities, what he loved more than anything was time spent with his family. There was a deep mutual love and respect between his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and him.
Alton was preceded in death by his first wife, Flo; his daughter, Cindy Strickland; his second wife, Frances Miller Barnes; his parents, Oscar and Maude Barnes; one sister, Evelyn Williams; and three brothers, O.L. Jr., Eugene and Bobby Barnes.
His surviving family includes his daughter, Arleen Nixon of Floydada; son-in-law Willie Strickland and wife, Kathy; sister, Glenda Barrett of Cotton Center; his brother, Billy Barnes and wife, Cora, of San Antonio; his grandchildren, Joel Strickland and wife, Tressa; Nathan; Matthew Strickland; Rebecca; Elaine Clark and husband, Wayne; Corey Hayter and wife, Kali; and Christopher Hayter; greatgrandchildren, Brittini Lockenour and husband, Troy, Kayla, Emily, Joseph, David, Cora, Dylan, Will, Taylor, Jacob, Cindy, Lacy and Riley; great-great-grandchildren, Tony and Lani; and unofficial adopted daughter, Anne-Marie Ham and husband Max.
Pallbearers were his grandsons, Joel Strickland, Matthew Strickland, Corey Hayter, Christopher Hayter, and great-grandsons Dylan Strickland and Taylor Strickland.
Online condolences may be made at www.moore-rose.com.