Mr. Charles Robert Barnes, 68, of Tunnel Hill, Ga., departed this life Monday morning, May 18, 2009, at the Hutcheson Medical Center in Fort Oglethorpe, Ga.�Charles was born Dec. 23, 1940, in Copperhill, Tenn., a son of the late Jimmie Brownlow and Jannie Mae Parm Barnes.� He was also preceded in death by his wife, Martha Howell Barnes, and a brother, Billy Barnes.

Charles was a 1960 graduate of West Side High School and was voted Mr. West Side High in 1960. Charles proudly served his country in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War and was retired from Continental Products.

He is survived by his special friend and caregiver, Mary Brinkley of Tunnel Hill; her children, Timothy and Karen Brinkley, Judy Dianne Cochran, all of Dalton, Ga., Renee and LeBron Sartin of Cohutta, Ga., and Ramona and Gary Hickox of Cordele, Ga.; brother and sisters-in-law, Dewy and Bonnie Barnes of North Augusta, S.C., and Paulette Barnes of Stuart, Fla.; several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, aunts and uncle.

Services to celebrate the life of Mr. Charles Robert Barnes will be held Thursday, May 21, 2009, at 2 p.m. at the Melrose Chapel of Ponders Funeral Home with Rev. Roy Gentry and Rev. Lillard Stringer officiating. He will be laid to rest beside his wife at the United Memorial Gardens. His grandsons will serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 5 until 9 p.m. Wednesday.

Thoughts and memories may be shared with the family at www.pondersfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements are by family owned and operated Ponders Funeral Home, 138 Melrose Drive, Dalton, (706) 226-4002.

Your selected independent funeral home.