Advertisement. Advertise with us

IN MEMORIAM: Debbi M. Barnes, 65;

Retired Payroll Director, Fox Hospital

Debbi Barnes

ONEONTA – Debbi M. Barnes, 65, retired payroll director at Fox Hospital, passed away peacefully surrounded by her treasured family and friends on Jan. 13, 2019, following a brief battle with cancer.

She was born on Jan. 15, 1953, in Sidney, the daughter of Zane and Marguerite Raudibaugh.

Debbi graduated from Oneonta High School in 1971. It was there in 1969 that Debbi, a member of the color guard, began dating her high school sweetheart, and football player, Louie Barnes. The two married shortly after graduation on Aug. 7, 1971, at St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church. They remained devoted to one another and their children for the next 47 years.

Debbi, a full-time working mother, found the time to pursue her education after high school. She worked tirelessly to graduate from the Utica School of Commerce with a degree in business. The culmination of her efforts was becoming an American Payroll Institute Certified Payroll Professional in 2010.

Debbi had a long and accomplished career as an employee of Fox Hospital. Over the course of 40 years, she worked in many capacities to include unit secretary, insurance verification and, after 20 years, as the payroll director, she retired to spend time with family and friends. Following her retirement Debbi took part-time work at ONC BOCES in the media library.

While Debbi will be remembered by many as a consummate professional, she will be remembered by those closest to her as a devoted, wife, mother, sister, aunt and friend. She spent countless hours preparing her famous spaghetti sauce and trays of Italian cookies as an act of love. Her door was always open to those she loved. She proudly attended each and every ball game and school event for her children, a tradition she joyfully carried on with her grandchildren and great-nieces and nephews.

Debbi loved to visit new places. She was most at peace when visiting the beach, relaxing in the sun. In her retirement, she enjoyed many trips with her lifelong friends, all of whom were by her side in her last moments.

Debbi leaves behind her loving husband of 47 years, Louie M Barnes; son Scott James Barnes and his wife Beth of Albany; daughter Lori Sue Barnes of Oneonta; cherished grandchildren Anthony, Alexandra and Katelyn; sister Marietta Maben; brother Brian Raudibaugh and his wife, Deborah; sisters-in-law Barbara Hoag and Christine Haines; brother-in-law, Barry Barnes and his wife, Jennifer and two generations of loving nieces and nephews.

Debbi was predeceased by her parents, Zane and Marguerite Raudibaugh; mother and father-in-law, Louis and Marjorie Barnes; and brother, Zane Raudibaugh.

A memorial service will be at 4 p.m., Friday, Jan. 18, at the Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home, 14 Grand St., Oneonta, with the Rev. Judith Thistle, Fox Hospital chaplain, officiating. Friends may call at the funeral home from 2 to 4 p.m. when the family will be in attendance.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to the American Cancer Society. The family asks that you carry on her memory by spending time with the ones you love. Eat together, laugh together, celebrate together. It is in these moments that she will live on in all of us.

To light a candle or send an online condolence, visit www.grummonsfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements are by the Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home, Oneonta.

Posted

1 Comment

  1. Louie. So sorry to see that Deb has gone to be with her savior. I’ve know Debbie most of my life growing up on the lower deck and working at Fox Hospital. My condolences to you and your family. Sharon Prindle Field

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Related Articles

SCOLINOS: It’s All We Need To Know: Home Plate 17 Inches Wide

COLUMN VIEW FROM THE GAME It’s All We Need To Know: Home Plate 17 Inches Wide Editor’s Note:  Tim Mead, incoming Baseball Hall of Fame president, cited John Scolinos, baseball coach at his alma mater, Cal Poly Pomona, as a lifelong inspiration, particularly Scolinos’ famous speech “17 Inches.” Chris Sperry, who published sperrybaseballlife.com, heard Scolinos deliver a version in 1996 at the American Baseball Coaches Association in Nashville, and wrote this reminiscence in 1916 in his “Baseball Thoughts” column. By CHRIS SPERRY • from www.sperrybaseballlife.com In 1996, Coach Scolinos was 78 years old and five years retired from a college coaching…

Sports Can Resume, Superintendents Told

CLICK HERE FOR MEMO TO SCHOOLS Sports Can Resume, Superintendents Told COOPERSTOWN – In a memo released Friday evening, county Public Health Director Heidi Bond advised local school superintendents that sports can resume as early as Monday. “Effective Feb. 1, participants in higher-risk sports may participate in individual or distanced group training and organized no/low-contact group training,” Bond wrote, “…including competitions and tournaments, if permitted by local health authorities.”…

Piper Seamon Scores 1,000th point

1,000 THANKS! Piper Seamon 5th CCS Girl To Hit High Mark The Cooperstown Central student section erupts as Piper Seamon scores her 1,000th career point in the Hawkeyes’ 57-39 win over Waterville at home last evening. Seamon becomes the fifth girl and only the 14th player in school history overall to score 1,000 points.  Inset at right, Pipershares a hug with teammate Meagan Schuermann after the game was stopped to acknowledge her achievement. Seamon will play basketball next year at Hamilton College. (Cheryl Clough/AllOTSEGO.com)  …

Putting the Community Back Into the Newspaper

Now through March 30, new annual subscribers to “The Freeman’s Journal” and AllOtsego.com (or subscribers who have lapsed for two or more years) have an opportunity to help their choice of one of four Otsego County charitable organizations.

$5.00 of your subscription will be donated to the nonprofit of your choice:

Cooperstown Farmers’ Market, Cooperstown Food Pantry, Greater Oneonta Historical Society or Super Heroes Humane Society.