Thomas William Barnes

Thomas William "Tommy" Barnes, age 91, of Avondale Estates, Georgia, passed away on September 20, 2007. He is survived by his loving wife and best friend of 63 years, Rachel Muckenfuss Barnes; two of his nine siblings, Robert Barnes and wife Donna and Donald Barnes and wife Luanne; sister-in-law, Mildred "Mimi" Barnes; his five children, son Thomas W. Barnes, Jr. and his wife Mimi of Alpharetta, Ga., son Larry W. Barnes and his wife Leslie of Duluth, Ga., son David S. Barnes of Avondale Estates, son John P. Barnes and wife Anne of Canton, Ga. and son James M. Barnes of Avondale Estates; grandchildren, Laird B. Murray (Jim), Rachel B. Locascio (David), Ashley B. Manley (Bart), Reese T. Barnes, Thomas W. Barnes, III, Caroline A. Barnes, Peter C. Barnes and Ellen L. Barnes; and great grandchildren, Ethan Manley, Reese Locascio, Patricia Manley and Emma Murray. He was born in Walton County but moved to Atlanta when he was 2 and lived the last 89 years in the Atlanta area. He graduated from Atlanta's Tech High in 1934 and from Georgia Tech in 1938. He served in World War II from 1941 to 1945 in the United States Navy, participating in many of the major naval battles in the Pacific and retiring in 1946 with the rank of Lt. Commander. He was in the oil business for 38 years with Pure Oil Co. from 1938 to 1950 and as president of Sing Oil Co. North Georgia from 1950 to 1976. He was one of the finest golfers in the south during the 1930's, 1940's and 1950's. Included in his more than 100 tournament victories were 2 Southern Amateur titles, 5 Dogwood Championships, 4 Southeastern Amateur titles, the Georgia State Amateur and the Southeastern Conference Championship. He was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame, the Southern Golf Hall of Fame, the Georgia Tech Sports Hall of Fame, the Atlanta Sports Hall of Fame and the Atlanta Athletic Club Hall of Fame. He was a member of the Atlanta Athletic Club for the past 77 years and previously a member of Druid Hills Country Club for many years. He was a member of Atlanta First United Methodist Church for over 30 years and later a member of Mt. Carmel Christian Church and most recently a member of Avondale Estates First Baptist Church. A memorial service will be held at Avondale Estates First Baptist Church on Tuesday, September 25th at 1:00 P.M. with Rev. Clay Bowden officiating. The family will receive friends immediately following the service at the church. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the Children's Fund, Avondale Estates First Baptist Church, 44 Covington Rd, Avondale Estates, GA 30002 or The Parkinson Research Fund, Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322. A. S. Turner & Sons