Barney Popnoe

Barney Popnoe, 88, passed away on Sunday morning, November 3, 2013 at Windcrest Healthcare Center in Abilene, Texas. Services will be held at 2:30 pm, on Wednesday, November 6, 2013 at the First Baptist Church in Coleman Texas under the direction of Stevens Funeral Home. A reception and visitation time will follow the service in the First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall.

Barney was born on January 7, 1925, in Silver Valley, Texas, to Bonnie and Millie Gillaspy Popnoe. His father died when he was three years old, and he and his younger brother were raised by his mother who worked many jobs during the depression to support her sons. She encouraged Barney to continue his education after his graduation from Novice High School. He entered McMurry College at age 15, and had completed two and a half years of college before being drafted into the Army during World War II. He returned to McMurry to complete his BS degree in biology and history. He continued his graduate science education at Texas Tech and at the University of New Mexico. He later received a MS degree in Guidance and Counseling from Howard Payne University, Summa Cum Laude and additional work in advanced science at the University of Texas.

For several years, he taught science and coached basketball at Eula, Burkett and Talpa-Centennial. After retiring from coaching, he taught biology, chemistry, and physics at Hamlin and Coleman, retiring from the teaching profession in 1986 with 40 years of service. His summer "vacations" from teaching were spent working as a roughneck in the oil field, working as a lab technician, farming, and restoring and repairing his rent houses. His final "retirement" was spent as a director and stockholder in the Coleman County State Bank and managing real estate holdings. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Coleman where he had served on the Personnel Committee and as Trustee.

Barney is survived by his wife of 67 years, Jane (Janie) Norman Popnoe; his son, Jeffery David Popnoe and wife Kathy Morrison Popnoe; his grandsons Joshua Darryl Popnoe and Noah David Popnoe; his two great-granddaughters, Chloe and Amber Popnoe; his brother Jake Popnoe and wife Leona and five nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by an infant brother, Bailey Popnoe.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the charity of the donor's choice.

Please sign his online guestbook at www.livingmemorials.com .