Viola Barnes, 77

Viola Ruth Barnes, age 77, of Three Rivers, died Sunday, Sept. 19, 2010, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo.

She was born July 23, 1933, in Three Rivers, a daughter of Robert and Lucile (Bohm) Flack, and attended Three Rivers schools.

On Jan. 1, 1950, Viola married Charles E. Barnes in Plainwell. Together they raised a family and operated a farm near Leonidas until Charles’ death on Dec. 12, 1983. She had also worked at Research Molding in Mendon from 1963-1978.

Viola is survived by a daughter, Patricia (Jim) Chase of Three Rivers; two sons, Charles (Julie) Barnes Jr. of Mendon and Phillip Barnes of Three Rivers; five grandchildren, Kim (Jessie Smith)Thomas, Charles (Amy) Guiter, Joanne (Paul Vosberg) Chase, Lorrie (Jamie) Hagenbuch and Doug (Lilla) Barnes; and nine great-grandchildren, Gage Guiter, Emily Guiter, Jude Guiter, Zach Guiter, Connor Thomas, Josie Smith, Ty Barnes, Carson Barnes and Juliana Hagenbuch.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and a grandchild, Chloe Guiter.

The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. today at the Eickhoff, Farrand, Halverson Chapel in Three Rivers. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at First United Methodist Church in Three Rivers, with the Rev. Dr. Maria Rutland officiating. Burial will be in Prairie River Cemetery in Centreville.

Memorials are suggested to the American Diabetes Association.