Alonzo ( Price ) Price Barnes

ALONZO PRICE BARNES 1920–2016 Price Barnes of Ashton and Mahomet has gone home to live with his Lord after 95 years of loving service to God, his family, and the community. He lived all his life in Illinois. Price was born in his parents’ home in Mt. Auburn on November 23, 1920; he died in his grandson’s home in Mahomet on April 6, 2016. One of the eight children of Alonzo and Della Barnes, he married Ruth Louise Slown on March 12, 1944. Their three children are Michael (Barbara) of Plymouth, MN; Thomas (deceased); and Jane (Chuy) Ramírez of Toa Baja, Puerto Rico. Price and Ruth had three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Following his military service in the Army Air Corps (WWII), he graduated from Illinois State University and was hired by the Ashton (IL) school district, where he was a teacher and principal until he retired. He also coached cross-country and was advisor for the school newspaper, yearbook, and National Honor Society. For most of his life he was a Sunday-School teacher and an elder of the Christian Church. He was a founding member of the board of the Erie facility of Illini Christian Children’s Home. He was president of the Rock River Christian Men’s Fellowship, forwarding agent for Caribe Christian Mission, and both board member and volunteer worker for Rock River Christian Camp. For sixteen years he served as trustee of Lincoln Christian College (now University), where he also taught for two years after his retirement. Price also served his community as a Boy Scout leader, American Legion chaplain, and in the Ashton Lion’s Club. He participated regularly in Memorial Day and Veterans’ Day programs in Ashton. He will be deeply missed, especially by the Barnes and Ramírez families: Mike, Barb, Jane, Joel, Tina, Miriam, Jonathan, Jo, Lexi, Jordan, Abigail, Ethan, and Emily. Our sorrow is overcome by the joy of knowing that our beloved Dad and Grandpa is home at last. Visitation will be at the Beverage-Lyons Funeral Home in Ashton from 5:00–8:00 pm on Friday, April 8 and from 10:00–11:00 am on Saturday, April 9. Memorial service will follow at 11:00 am on Saturday. Burial of the ashes will take place at a later date in Mt. Auburn Cemetery