25-May-1983

Girard, OH
　
Russell W. Barnes of 1131 Leslie Lane, Girard, Ohio died of cancer after a nine-month illness on 25 May 1983.

Mr. Barnes was born 7 September 1920, in Canton, Ohio. He was a son of John and Anna Besselman Barnes, moving to Liberty Township in 1962. He was a mechanic for the Morrison Company of Niles for nine years, retiring in November 1982. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Canton and the DAV Post in Warren.

He volunteered for the Rangers and was assigned to 3rd Ranger BN A Co. He later was transferred to the 4th Ranger BN D Co. After the Rangers were disbanded he was transferred to 6th Company 2nd Regiment of the First Special Service Force in April of 1944. On 6 January 1945 he was sent to the 474th Infantry Regt (separate). He served with this unit until the end of WWII.

The FSSF and Rangers were each awarded Congressional Gold Medals. Russell would be included in this honor along with the Purple Heart and other medals he was awarded for his service.

Russell W. Barnes passed away on 25 May 1983 at the age of 62.
Besides his mother of Mapleton, he leaves his wife, the former Helen R. Ward, whom he married 3 November 1945; a son, Russell W. Jr. of Brookfield: a daughter, Mrs. Judith Seach of Howland, four sisters, three brothers and four grandchildren.