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Copied from the Tulsa Metro Racing Board:
Wednesday, August 12, 2009 10:31 AM CDT
The Mannford Fire Department recently lost Assistant Chief Virgil Barnes after a long illness.
Chief Barnes died Aug. 7, 2009 after battling cirrhosis of the liver.
Virgil Barnes
“A few years ago Virgil started having problems with his liver. He had a disease that caused cirrhosis but he wasn't an alcoholic. The disease caused the illness,” said Mannford Firefighter Joe Clayton. “He'd been battling this for several years and then finally succumbed to it.”
Chief Barnes was hired on to the Mannford Fire Department in February 1990 and was assistant chief when he died. He worked for the department for nearly 20 years.
“He was still currently on the fire department but he was on sick leave. He still helped out every once in a while, bringing us water and stuff,” Clayton said.
A funeral procession, complete with fire trucks, will start at the Barnes' residence Wednesday, Aug. 12 at 11 a.m. and travel to the First Baptist Church of Mannford, where the funeral will be held.
Chief Barnes is survived by his wife, Alliyon, of 34 years, sons Steven and Jeffery. He was also an active member of First Baptist Church of Mannford.
Chief Barnes owned and operated Barnes Machine Shop until his illness wouldn't allow him to work there anymore, forcing him to close the doors.
“He got me on the department,” Clayton said. “I worked for him at his machine shop. He was just like any other firefighter. He would do anything for anybody at anytime. He was a machinist by trade but he was a great firefighter and a great guy.”
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Warren Vincent
Cans 4 Kansas Heroes
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