Submitted by: Dan Rich

Mildred Mae Barnes

May 2, 1923 - Oct. 31, 2005

South Bend Tribune 11/3/2005

Mildred Mae "Midge" Barnes, 82, of Terrace Lane, South Bend, died following a brief illness at 3:38 a.m. Monday, Oct. 31, in Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center. Mrs. Barnes was born May 2, 1923, in Mishawaka, Ind., to the late Stewart and Clara (Morris) Gonser, and was a lifetime area resident.

On March 29, 1942, in South Bend, she married Charles W. Barnes Jr., who preceded her in death Jan. 30, 1985. She is survived by three daughters, Roxie (Robert) Klink of Largo, Fla., Bobbie (Larry) Wiseman of Silver Springs, Fla., and Vickie (Neal) Barnes of Osceola, Ind.; two sons, Charles S. "Butch" (Patty) Barnes of Niles, Michigan, and James W. (Carla) Barnes of New Carlisle, Ind.; 19 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren; and by a brother, Russell (Gail) Gonser of Elkhart, Ind.

Midge was a member of the former Maple Lane United Methodist Church and was formerly a Lioness with the Clay Township Lions Club. She spent many hours and took great pride in making ceramics and attending ceramic classes. But her greatest joys and most precious moments were spent with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and her best friend, her dog Sassy.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, November 4th, in the Welsheimer Family Funeral Home North, 17033 Cleveland Road, with Pastor Vickie Van Nevel officiating. Entombment will follow at All Faiths Mausoleum at Riverview Cemetery. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today, November 3, in the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Indiana Lions Eye Bank, c/o Indiana University Medical Center, 702 Rotary Circle, Indianapolis, IN 46202.