More detail on this person: Kenneth Barnes
was a man changed by war.
He grew up in Nashville, Tenn., one of seven
children. After high school, he joined the Navy,
and while in the service, got a degree from the
University of Nebraska. His dream had been to
become a lawyer.
But when his Navy hitch ended in 1963, he turned
around and joined the Army. He ended up serving
two tours of duty in Vietnam. He flew helicopters,
and was a helicopter instructor.
And when he returned to the United States nine
years later, he just wasn't the same Kenneth his
friends and family had known. He'd gone from being
outgoing and fun-loving to keeping more and more
to himself.
He was a tinkerer, and liked working on cars.
He moved to Southern California where he could be
near family members, and owned a bar, the Gemini,
on Firestone Boulevard in South Gate for a time.
Then he sold the bar and worked as a car
salesman.
Most recently, he lived in an apartment in
Paramount, and had been cleaning coin-operated
car washes at night. He'd always liked the
Bellflower-Paramount area, his brother Gilbert
said.
He may have just been leaving a car wash job when
he was shot and killed just after midnight on
April 12 at Compton Boulevard and Clark Avenue in
Bellflower.
A young emergency medical technician said later
he was in his garage nearby when he heard muffled
gunshots, followed by a car screeching, then a
loud crash. John Stephen ran around the corner,
where he saw Kenneth's car sticking out of a
barbershop, across from the car wash. The engine
of his car was still running.
Despite John's life-saving efforts, Kenneth died a
few minutes later. He was 55 years old.
So far, there are no suspects in his murder.
He is survived by his mother, Eunice Barnes;
brothers, Charles, David and Gilbert; sisters,
Barbara McMinn, Hazel Chausse and Carroll;
children, Debbie and Michael.
Services will be private.
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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