Oram Elmer Barnes Sr., 77, of Friendship, passed away peacefully at Maine Medical Center in Portland surrounded by his loving family on April 22. The son of the late Elmer and Frances Wall Barnes was born in Spruce Head on May 10, 1933. He grew up in Spruce Head and attended local schools and was a graduate of Rockland District High School.
After high school he joined the U.S. Army where he served until 1955. After returning home from the service, he married his first wife Mattie Dodge in 1955. The couple lived in Spruce Head and raised their family.
He always enjoyed working on cars and knew it would be his life’s work after he began working at the junkyard for John Monroe during his high school years. After his time in the service, he came home and began working at Dewitt’s Garage in Rockland and later becoming the service manager at Shepherd’s Chevrolet in Rockland. In 1974 after marrying his second wife Joyce Henniger, the couple moved to Friendship where he owned and operated Barnes Garage until selling it in the early 2000s. After selling his business, he began to work at Lee’s Auto Parts in Waldoboro and at Clark’s Napa in Damariscotta.
If he wasn’t working on cars, he was usually found doing woodworking or carpentry. His family said that it was hard to take him seriously because he was always joking around. Whether it was calling your phone and hanging up or telling you a joke with a great punch line, he enjoyed messing with you. He was a very hard worker and it showed in everything he did. He will be truly missed.
Survivors include his wife of 37 years, Joyce Barnes of Friendship; daughter, Beth Contreras and husband George of Rockland; son, Oram Elmer Barnes Jr. of Rockland; step-son, Richard Drukker and wife Susie of Pennsylvania; grandson, Brian Athearn of Rockland; step-granddaughter, Dina Nicholas and husband Jason of New Jersey; step-great-grandson, Noah Nicholas of New Jersey; sister, Irene Young of Rockland; and daughter-in-law, Jo Drukker of New Jersey.
Memorial service 1 p.m., Mon., May 2 at the Hall Funeral Home, 949 Main St., Waldoboro with Pastor Joseph LaCombe officiating. Interment will follow at Brookland Cemetery in Waldoboro
Should friends desire contributions may be made in Oram’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association Maine Chapter, 383 U.S. Rt. 1, Suite 2C, Scarborough, ME 04074.
You are invited to share your condolences with the Barnes family by visiting their Book of Memories at www.hallfuneralhomes.com.
Arrangements are entrusted to Hall Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 949 Main St., Waldoboro.