Kenneth E Barnes

Kenneth Eugene Barnes was born June 9, 1936 in Anson Texas to J.K. and Gertie Barnes. He passed on November 15, 2021.

His family moved to Long Beach CA in 1941 and he graduated from Long Beach Poly High School in 1954. From there he attended Cal State Long Beach where he served as class president and was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.

Early on, his life goal was to be a sports journalist and he covered Long Beach scholastic sports for both the Long Beach Independent and The Los Angeles Times. He served in the naval reserve for 8 years as a First Class Radarman. In 1957 he launched what proved to be a long and successful career in the life insurance business in Long Beach. He was the youngest person to qualify for membership in the Million Dollar Roundtable at the age of 22 during his first year in the business. While representing many of the nation’s top life insurance companies he received many awards for national sales achievement.  He earned the coveted CLU Chartered Life Underwriter designation in 1966.

As a leader in the industry, Ken served as president of the Long Beach Association of Life Underwriters, president of the Long Beach General Agents and Managers Association and Vice President of the California Association of Life Underwriters. Ken also was a member of the board of the Long Beach Estate Planning and Trust Council and was asked to serve on the President’s advisory council of 4 major life insurance companies over the course of his career.

Active in community service Ken served on the board of Rectors of the Century Club, Long BeachRegional Arts Council, Junior Chamber of Commerce, 49er Athletic Foundation, Self Help Opportunities Corporation, the Pacific Hospital Foundation and was a long-time member of the Armed Services Commission of the City of Long Beach. Ken was a member of Long Beach Rotary for many years and served as president of the Long Beach Executives Association. One of ken's interests was the Western Special Olympics and he served on the founding Board of Directors in its infancy, he was named the Outstanding Young Man in the city in 1973 by the Long Beach Jaycees and was also listed in Who's Who in the West, Who's Who in America and Who's Who in American Industry and Finance.

Ken is survived by his five children, son, Kenneth E. Barnes, II Catherine Chambers)I; daughters, Teresa (Eric) Sands; Valerie (Randy) Hasson; Beverly Smith; and Jennifer (Steve) Crittendon. He was blessed with 9 grandchildren and four great grandsons. His life was truly filled by the love of his two older brothers Bill and Bob.

At Ken’s request there will be no services conducted and donations in his honor should be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.