George R. Barnes, 65, of Overland Park, Kansas, passed away from kidney cancer August 21, 2013, at the Forum Nursing Facility. Mass of the Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 26, at Curé of Ars Catholic Church with mass being celebrated by Msgr. Charles McGlinn.. Burial following in Resurrection Catholic Cemetery. A rosary and visitation at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 25, will also be at Curé of Ars. George was born July 11, 1948, in Independence, Missouri, to Dora (nee Walker) and Arthur Barnes. A life-long resident of Kansas City, he graduated from Westport High School and earned basketball scholarships to both Metropolitan Junior College and UMKC. On January 4, he and Terry Beth were married by Fr. Wheeler. George began a career in the grocery business in 1970 that spanned 35 years. He is especially remembered managing the Safeway (later Food Barn) store in Ranchmart Shopping Center where he was responsible for beginning the Special Education Work Experience Program. In 1995, George began purchasing Subway Sandwich Shops and operated six stores by the time he retired in 2011. He was a member of Curé of Ars parish for over 30 years and served on their school board and as BBQ judge at their Holy Smokes BBQ Competition. Over the years, George was board president of the Metropolitan Federal Credit Union, president on the advertising board of the National Association of Subway Franchisees, and B&B Bowling League president. George loved golf, bowling, racquetball, the Rocky Mountains, San Francisco and BBQ; but most of all he loved people. He will be sorely missed by his wife of 35 years, Terry Beth, daughter and son-in-law, Elizabeth and Mike Bober, granddaughter, Simone Bober, son and daughter-in-law, James and Jessica Barnes, grandson, J. Henry Barnes, brother and sister-in-law, Fredrick and Jeanne Barnes and brother, John Barnes, in addition to many nephews and nieces, and countless friends.

(his obituary was published in Kansas City Star on August 23, 2013)