Virginia Arlene Barnes
August 14, 1929 - February 22, 2026
Virginia Arlene Barnes, aged 96, passed away after a period of declining health on February 22,
2026, in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. She was born on August 14, 1929, to Carl and Marie Butler in
Webb City, OK.
Virginia grew up in the oil fields of northern Oklahoma. Her father, Carl, worked for the Prairie
Oil Company, later the Sinclair Oil Company. The family moved from Webb City in 1931 to an oil
camp west of Shidler, Oklahoma, and then to Little Chief in 1936. She attended Gray Horse and
Fairfax Elementary and Fairfax High School, graduating in 1947.
She met her husband, Emery Gene Barnes, while living at the Naval Reserve. They were
married on April 15, 1948, in Sand Springs, Oklahoma. Throughout their marriage, the couple
relocated various times due to Gene's career with Phillips Petroleum Company. Virginia was
employed by the First National Bank of Dewey, Converse County Hospital in Douglas,
Wyoming, and Phillips Petroleum Company, retiring in 1987.
Virginia was a deeply committed and active member of her community. She maintained a
lifelong membership in the Order of the Eastern Star and the Dewey VFW Auxiliary, and
participated in the Dewey Jaycees, Horseless Carriage Club, League of Women Voters, Dewey
Dance Club, 55 Plus Center of Bartlesville, and Washington Senior Citizens Association. She
attended the First Christian Church of Dewey, OK.
Her hobbies included reading, quilting, and embroidery. She loved to put puzzles together and
playing Bingo with her friends. Virginia and Gene shared a passion for antiquing and attending
auctions. Virginia maintained numerous antique booths in the Bartlesville and Dewey area. She
and Gene also enjoyed traveling together, taking numerous vacations and cruises around the
world.
She is survived by her children, Carl Lee Barnes, wife Karen of Broken Arrow, OK, Neal Wane
Barnes, wife Gail of Norman, OK, and Nina Marie Ropp and husband Richard of Collinsville,
OK. Grandchildren Jason Barnes, wife Amy, and their children Tyler, Jared, Alesa, and Jessica;
Andrea Shotton, husband Vince, and their children Jacob and Emma; Christopher Barnes, wife
Elizabeth, and their children Joel and Evelyn; Cameron Barnes, wife Melissa, and their children
Owen, Ethan, and Avery; Catina Lewis, husband Isaac, and their children Dylan and Paisley;
Annette Martin, husband Les, and their children Reid, Kade, and Sadie; and Adam Gene Ropp,
wife Abigail, and their children Virginia and Jasper.
She is also survived by her siblings, David Butler, Gary Butler, and Linda Befort, as well as
numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Gene Barnes, her parents Carl and
Marie Butler, and her brother Carl Lacoe Butler.
Her memorial services will be held on Thursday, February 26, at 11:00 am at Stumpf Funeral
Home in Bartlesville, OK. Visitation will be Wednesday at Stumpff Funeral Home from 9:00AM-5:00PM.
Virginia's kindness to all and devotion to her family will be dearly
remembered and sorely missed.
© Davis Family Funeral Home