Roll Call Tribute

William Robert Barnes 

October 15, 1933 - September 3, 2023 

William Robert Barnes, "Bill" was born on October 15th, 1933, to Louise and Kirksey Barnes in Blooming Grove and raised in Barry Texas.

He passed away peacefully with his wife Mary by his side on September 3rd, 2023. He graduated from Texas A&M University, class of 1955. He was proud of growing up in the country and a proud Texas Aggie.

Bill spent his career in the Institutional Real Estate Development Industry including large scale commercial ventures with The Prudential, the former Republic National Bank and The Travelers. He applied his business savvy, work ethic, vision, integrity and persistence to significant development ventures. Additionally, if a development project was having issues, Bill was the one who was tapped to fix it and finish it. He was the one to “Get the ox out of the ditch” every time.

Bill had remarkable confidence in creating beauty and color, from his collection of contemporary artwork to the color of the paint on the wall, the selection of just the right granite for the skin on a high-rise building or the counter tops in his home, or selecting Mary’s Fuchsia Manolo Blahniks.

Bill had a huge brain and soft heart, was intensely loyal to those he loved, had a wicked sense of humor and an impeccable if not occasionally enhanced story telling ability, and could take it as well as he could give it. He was one of a kind, and will be profoundly missed.

Bill married his beloved Mary almost 38 years ago. Over the years he was devoted to every one of his 9 Shetland Sheepdogs, although he was genuinely surprised that you paid for a dog. He treasured his extended family, the Braly’s, and precious friends in Corsicana, Houston, Dallas and across the country.

Texas A&M was his heart from the day he arrived in College Station until the day he died. Every night Bill said “God Bless America. God Bless Texas A&M.”

In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine. Please designate Bill and Mary Barnes Memorial (#58609) in the memo line of the check (Texas A&M Foundation, 401 George Bush Drive, College Station, Texas 77840).

A graveside service will be 10:00 am on Thursday 7 September 2023 at the Oakwood Cemetery in Corsicana Texas.