Douglas "Barny" LeRoy Barnwell

Douglas Leroy “Barny” Barnwell passed on September 24, 2023. He was born September 28, 1934 in Fayetteville Arkansas to Gladie Ella Barnwell (nee Childers, later Gladie Needham) and Cecil Olen Barnwell. He graduated from Will Rogers HS in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1954. Doug was his parents only child. He is survived by his wife, Emelia “Amy” Barnwell (nee Leising), their 3 children, Cecile Farrell (Broadway), Larry Barnwell and wife Jacy Barnwell, and Cory “Mitchell” Barnwell and by his 4 grandchildren, Cliff “Henry” Broadway, Edward Broadway, Baylee Barnwell and Beckett Barnwell. 

Doug is also survived by his good friends and neighbors, Maura and Cesar DeLeon and their children Ashley, Myra and Wendy. The DeLeon family always treated Barney like family, they brought him meals, helped him around the house and visited him often. The DeLeon daughters said they thought of Barney as a grandpa.

Barny served in the U.S. Marines from 1954 to 1957, he was stationed in Palm Springs. After his discharge, he lived a short while in Bakersfield California with his Aunt Octie and Uncle Cordy Sparks and his cousin Odie Sparks.

Barny then came home and helped his mom and dad run Barnwell’s Sporting Goods and Mechanic shop in Disney, Oklahoma. After his Junior year at Northeastern State College in Tahlequah, he took a summer job at Yellowstone National Park. While in Yellowstone he met Amy who was waiting tables at the café in the Old Faithful Inn. They married that summer, 1964 and Barney returned to college to complete his Senior year.

He worked for the State of Oklahoma Department of Human Service as a caseworker for 12 years and then transferred to the Department of Human Services (DHS) Commodities section where he finished his career and retired.

In retirement Barny enjoyed antiquing, playing cards with family, and visiting with neighbors. He could often be found at his favorite restaurant, Neighbor’s Café in Warr Acres. Café owners Mike and Patty were good friends to Barney and would bake and serve a birthday cake for him every year.

A small family memorial is scheduled to be held in Tulsa.

Barny was always an avid Oklahoma History scholar.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to:

Oklahoma Historical Society

800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive

Oklahoma City, OK 73105

405-521-2491