Charles L. "Charlie" Barnes

LOWELL – Charles L. "Charlie" Barnes, 73, a lifelong resident of Lowell died, Wednesday, August 17, 2016 at his daughter's home in Dracut surrounded by his loving family, following a long courageous battle with prostate cancer. He was the beloved husband of Anne S. (Hodgson) Barnes, to whom he was married for 56 years.

He was born in Lowell on October 24, 1942, and was a son of the late Raymond A. and Gertrude (McCluskey) Barnes. He was a graduate of Lowell High School and earned his bachelor's degree in business from the University of Lowell while working full time and raising a family.

Charlie was employed for 56 years by Ideal Tape Co. in Lowell, a division of American Biltright Inc. Charlie began his career as a clerk in the shipping and receiving department and worked his way up to Director of Purchasing. Charlie had a great work ethic and truly enjoyed what he did for a living. He was fortunate as well to have worked at Ideal Tape alongside his son Kenny for many years.

Charlie had a great passion for 50's music, especially Elvis, and could name the artist from any song. He also enjoyed playing golf at several area golf and country clubs. He also had a great passion for driving his car to new destinations and had an amazing sense of direction. Charlie loved sports, especially the Red Sox, the Lowell Spinners and boxing. Watching television was also a favorite past time and he enjoyed politics and history. Charlie's greatest passion was the love he had for his family. He was the most devoted husband, amazing father and loved his wife, all of his three children and seven grandchildren with all of his heart. Charlie enjoyed vacations with his family and enjoyed fishing at his son Jerry's cottage in Maine and traveling and spending time with his wife Anne and daughter Judy and family. He loved spending time with his family over the years at many family events, birthdays, graduations, dance recitals and all of the holidays. He was also a great father in law and loved his son in law Bill and daughter in laws Kathy and Donna.

Charlie was charismatic with a quick wit. He is loved by all who knew him including all his nieces, nephews, friends and colleagues who loved to spend time with him and hear all of his jokes and entertaining stories. Sometimes he would laugh so hard while telling his jokes that it took a while to get to the punch line.

He was an amazing man and is truly and deeply loved by all of family.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his three children, Kenneth Herbert Barnes and his wife Kathleen of Wilton, NH, Gerald C. Barnes and his wife Donna of Lowell, and Judith Anne Barnes-Cassidy and her husband William Cassidy of Dracut; seven grandchildren, Nicholas, Jillian, Kayla, Jerry, Chelsea, and Jacob Barnes, and Brianna Cassidy; a brother, John Barnes; two sisters, Janet Shanahan and Marylou Hunt; and many nieces, nephews, colleagues, and close friends.

He was also the brother of the late Raymond Barnes, Patricia McAnistan, Virginia Ramsey, Joan Woods, and Donna Dowrey.

Charlie's family would like to remind everyone that prostate cancer is often a silent killer and early detection is very important. Please have regular prostate exams and if you have a history of prostate cancer in your family and your Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) is above 2, insist that your doctor do a biopsy.