Carol Barnes Obituary

Carol  Barnes
Carol Barnes

August 30, 1930 - August 22, 2024
Born in Des Moines, Iowa
Resided in Des Moines, Iowa
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Obituary

Carol Wood Barnes was born August 30, 1930, in Des Moines to Thomas L. Wood and Genevieve R. Wood and died August 22, 2024, at Calvin Community in Des Moines.

Carol was educated in Des Moines schools, then earned a Bachelor of Science in Child Development at Iowa State University and later earned a Masters of Social Work at the University of Iowa.

Carol loved 4 things: her family, children of all ages, helping people in need physically or emotionally, and enriching her community. She was part of a group who established a children’s science center in Ottumwa. She started Ottumwa’s first licensed day care center and provided leadership to the Ottumwa Salvation Army Advisory Board for 35 years.

Carol married Barry Barnes in Des Moines in 1952 and lived in Milford, Ottumwa, and Des Moines over the course of her life. They raised four children: Lynn Isvik, Julie Barnes, Jack (Deb Scott), and Ann (Steve) Clime, and opened their home to four foster children. They also enjoyed spending time with their four granddaughters and four great-grandchildren.

In mid-life Carol began a career in social work, which she found very rewarding. She was fond of the children and professional staff with whom she worked and maintained relationships with many of them until her death.

On vacations, Carol and Barry traveled with their children to experience America. Later, as a couple, they traveled in Europe and Central America, absorbing different cultures and sometimes doing mission work. The height of her mission effort was to raise money and recruit volunteers from across Iowa to build a Habitat for Humanity house for a family of eight in Mississippi. Carol continued to mentor the recipient family for the next 20 years.

Carol was preceded in death by her husband Barry, her dear brother Tom Wood, and her sister-in-law, Doris Wood.

Carol was always interested in science, so she chose the family tradition of becoming a Silent Professor by donating her body to the Anatomy Department of Des Moines University.

Carol felt all people have the responsibility to make the world a better place. She carried out that responsibility to the best of her ability. She ran the good race and fought the good fight.

A memorial service will be held at 2 PM Sunday, October 6, 2024, at Plymouth UCC Church in Des Moines, with live streaming available at www.ilesCares.com. Memorials may be directed to Iowa Public Television or the Animal Rescue League of Iowa.

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Services

Memorial Service
Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ
4126 Ingersoll Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50312
Sunday, October 6, 2024
2:00 PM

Charities

Iowa Public Television
6450 Corporate Drive PO Box 6450
Johnston, IA 50131
Animal Rescue League Of Iowa
5452 NE 22nd Street
Des Moines, IA 50313
The Animal Rescue League of Iowa (ARL) is Iowa's largest nonprofit animal shelter, caring for many thousands of pets each year. The ARL serves people and pets from across the state of Iowa through its programs, which include pet adoption, humane education, pet behavior training, spay/neuter, animal cruelty intervention and much more.