BARNES, Betty Ruth (From the Daily Republic newspaper, Fairfield, CA) Obituary of Betty Ruth Barnes    April 14, 1932 ­ May 3, 2004 Mrs. Betty Ruth Barnes was born in Tulsa, Okla., April 14, 1932. She died in Redding Hospital May 3, 2004. Betty came out to California while still a toddler with her mother and two sisters. They lived in Oakland for a time, then moved to Vallejo where she received a well-rounded education. Betty took dancing with Scatley Western at about 3. She then danced on a radio show and was paid for it. Her father, Otto, taught her to skate at a very young age; a pastime both enjoyed immensely. She met and married George Barnes and started a family, giving birth to nine children ­ five girls and four boys ­ and adopting her granddaughter, Sarah. Christmas was her favorite time of year. The decorations and the looks on the kids¹ faces when the tree was packed with presents made her happy. Thanksgivi ng was also a favorite of Betty¹s. She planned early and her Thanksgiving feasts were a noisy, festive time that lasted all day. Betty¹s overseas experience began in 1958 while her husband, George, served in the military. At 25 she already had five children and was working on the sixth. Her favorite place was Greece where many of the children were old enough to absorb and appreciate the culture. While there she added two more children to the family. No matter where the Army sent the family, they always returned home to California. After her husband, George, retired, they moved to Tahoe where Betty learned how to sail and snow ski while she was in her mid-40s. In the 1990s she entered college to finish her education but was a class short of her degree because of her husband¹s failing health. She also worked as an aide at Richfield Elementary School for a while. She belonged to the Pocahontas lodge and the Women¹s Relief Corp. Everything Betty experienced in her life was her biggest enjoyment and her children and grandchildren are very proud of her. Betty leaves behind a large family: Jeralyn Salinas, Jorjanne Reed and Kathleen Liening of Fairfield; Timothy Barnes of West Virginia, and Michelle Ballard and Jayne Vinson of Corning; Sarah Barnes of Arkansas; 15 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; sisters, Mary Kudsk of Vancouver, Wash., and Margaret Adorno of Corning; stepbrother, Vernon Rockwell, of Corning, and many nieces and nephews. Her husband, George Barnes, and three sons, Patrick, Shaun and Christopher Barnes, preceded Betty in death. There will be a memorial for Betty at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the First Baptist Church, 506 Colusa St., Corning. Pastor Fissori is presiding. Published in the Daily Republic on 5/5/2004.