Rita M. Barnes

Age 90, of Canton, passed away Tuesday, March 9, 2021.  She was born Dec. 18, 1930 in Canton, a daughter of the late Paul and Mary (Myers) Sanford, and was a life resident.  Rita was a 1948 graduate of Timken High School.  She was retired from Canton City Schools as a school secretary at Timken High School and Woodland Elementary School.  Rita was a member of First Christian Church where she taught the two year olds Sunday school class over fifty years and all the kids called her Miss Rita.  She was one of the last members of the Berean Sunday School Class which was started by her father-in-law, J. R. Barnes after World War II, for the men coming back from the service.  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 45 years, Richard L. Barnes, on August 29, 1997, a sister, Pauline Ziegler, and a son-in-law, Michael Hieronimus.  Rita is survived by a daughter and two sons, Julie (Bob) Inniger, Rev. Paul (Diane) Barnes, and R. Stanley (Christine) Barnes, nine grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren, David (Joy) Barnes, and their children, Nehemiah, Caleb, Nathan, Ezekiel, and Grace, Jonathon (Heather) Barnes, and their children, Delaney, Silas, and Titus, Kyle (Olivia) Barnes, and their soon to be born son, Collin (Diana) Barnes, and their daughters, Gianna and Vivian, Andrew (Arielle) Hieronimus, and their children, Cora, Joelle, and Jakob, Kaitlin (Chris) Hecox, Jennifer (Abram) Basinger, and their soon to be born son, Nathan Inniger, and Adam Inniger.  Rita loved the staff of the Canton Christian Home where she resided seven years, and considered them her family.  Services will be held Sat. at 11 a.m. in the Johnson Center for Worship at Malone University (formerly First Christian Church 2600 Cleveland Ave. NW) with her son, Rev. Paul Barnes officiating.  Friends may call Sat. 10-11 a.m. before the service.  Private Interment for the family will be in Forest Hill Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, contributions in Rita's memory may be made to the Canton Christian Home, 2550 Cleveland Ave. NW, Canton, OH 44709.        Condolences may be made to: www.gordonfuneralhomes.com

Gordon (330) 456-4766