JAMES KEITH BARNES
April 25, 1944 - June, 2023
Age 79

James Keith Barnes, age 79, was born to James W. and Betty (Stair) Barnes in Toledo, Ohio on April 25, 1944. The second of six children; he was born while his father was serving in the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.  Jim graduated from Clay High School, Oregon, OH in 1962. At Case Western Reserve University, he received academic and football scholarships and completed his undergraduate degree in 1966 with majors in Chemistry and Psychology. He continued his studies at the University of Louisville Medical School. After receiving his degree in medicine, he served in the U.S. Air Force (Vietnam) based out of Wright Patterson AFB in the early ’70s. 

Jim returned to Oregon, OH, and took his children on many wonderful local vacations. They went fishing at Michigan’s Manistique Lake; to Niagara Falls; Toronto, and skiing at Mt. Brighton, Michigan. Family day trips included the Henry Ford Museum at Greenfield Village and the Toledo Zoo and Art Museum. In summers, he took the kids to Cedar Point, the Holland, OH Strawberry Festival, the Lucas County Fair (where they would try to guess his weight and he always won), and sometimes the Ohio State Fair. Family time wouldn't be complete without Disney movies at the Pearson Park Drive-in Theater, or Farrell's Old Fashioned Ice Cream Parlor for birthdays. His favorite local restaurants were: Someplace Else, Steak and Ale, The Original House of Pancakes, and Earl's in East Toledo. He used to say, "This is the best food ever!" and he always treated everyone. It was his pleasure!

He had an inquisitive nature and enjoyed learning as much as he could about the history of places he visited and would regale you with these stories. He was so fun to be around, and his excitement was contagious. Jim was known for his love of and participation in sports, particularly football. He also enjoyed many friendships over his lifetime and loved to reminisce about his old friends; often telling their life stories in detail and with relish.

Jim or “JB” as he was known, decided to become a psychiatrist, based on, he said, "reading One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest". He saw issues in psychiatry that disturbed him, like shock treatment and lobotomies, and wanted to be an agent of change. He was passionate about being a psychiatrist because he wanted to help people and was truly gifted at it.

In 1978, JB moved his family to Southern California. Every summer they would drive up to San Francisco and then on to “one of his favorite spots in the world,” South Lake Tahoe. His children reminisce about trips to Julian, Anza Borrego, Green Valley Falls, Palm Springs, and Lake Havasu. Some of his favorite California restaurants were Filippi's Pizza, Casa de Pico, and Marie Calendar's. Jim was generous and thoroughly enjoyed showing people a good time. He took his kids and a host of cousins and friends to Disneyland several times a year. Movies were one of JB’s many pleasures. Some of his favorites were Rocky and Young Frankenstein, but Star Wars was his all-time favorite. He must have taken the kids to see Star Wars at least 50 times. He always had such glee and child-like excitement.

Before he died, Jim stated that his children were his whole reason for living. His life's dream was to ensure his kids were provided for and could travel to wherever their dreams took them because he enjoyed seeing them so happy. He wanted to grant all his kids every wish.

Jim is survived by his sisters Gayle Broom, Judy DePeal, Carol Howell, and Janice Pakema, his brother Rodney Barnes; and his five children: Christa Rosenberg, Betty Conklin, Jamie Barnes, Melissa Barnes, and Bryan Barnes. He also has 9 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.

Jim worked hard and played hard. He had a life of great adventures including bullfighting, lion taming, and riding an ostrich at the Kentucky Derby. But FAMILY was the greatest adventure of all. Before he passed away, he stated that his kids were his whole world. His warmth and zest for life will be sorely missed.

Veterans Funeral Care - Clearwater, FL
Florida National Cemetery
Bushnell, Sumter County, Florida
Sympathy Store

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/md-psychiatrist-james-k-barnes-obituary?id=52279161