Allan W. Barnes

Allan Barnes, husband, father, grandfather and long-time public schoolsuperintendent and administrator, passed away in Vancouver,Washington this week after suffering a stroke and heart failure. In his last days, Allan was tended to by his wife of more than 30 years,Twyla Barnes, and his son, Kirk Barnes and wife Heidi of Vancouver,and his son Eric Barnes of Memphis. Born in Tacoma as the third of six children, Allan and his siblings werenothing if not loud, funny and boisterous beyond belief, especially whenthey were all together. Though Allan and his siblings grew up with verylimited means and in very difficult circumstances, Allan was able to goon to tremendous professional success in public education, to travelaround the world, to run marathons, to ski and live a full life. Heremained close to his siblings and loved all his many nieces andnephews. As a child, Allan attended public schools in Tacoma, Washington,including Washington Elementary School, Mason Junior High School,and Stadium High School, from which he graduated in 1956. After serving in the US Army as a Military Police Officer stationed inEthiopia, Allan came back to Tacoma and married Kirk and Eric'smother, Pauline Muir, who Allan remained friends with till her passingin 2021. Allan graduated from the University of Puget Sound in 1963.He became a history teacher at Gray Middle School in Tacoma then later got his Master's in Education at Oregon State University in 1967, thenhis Doctorate in Education at the Loyola University in Chicago in 1972. Allan went on to work as an administrator in public education in Illinoisbefore becoming superintendent of schools in Wishkaw, Washingtonoutside of Aberdeen, then principal of schools in Metlakata, Alaskaoutside Ketchikan in during the mid-1970s. In 1977, Allan became head of the Southeast Regional Resource Center(SERRC) in Juneau, Alaska, which he led till 1991. When he joinedSERRC, it was a small Educational Service District, but Allan soonexpanded the staff and services dramatically, eventually turning SERRCinto a model for ESD's nationwide. As SERRC grew, Allan became veryinvolved with the American Association of School Administrators,which his wife Twyla later headed. Allan finished his career as head of Post-Secondary Education for theState of Alaska, then retired to Vancouver, Washington in 1994 after hiswife Twyla became head of Washington's Educational Service District112. In retirement, Allan focused even more on physical activity, includingjogging, biking, skiing, yoga, rollerblading, aerobics and Zumba, oftenparticipating in all of them in a single week. He ran a number ofmarathons, including the Boston marathon in 1998 just after his 60thbirthday, and skied around the country and the world. Allan loved his two boys and their children immensely, becoming acentral figure in the lives of his grandchildren, Reed Barnes, EliseBarnes and Mackenzie Barnes. He played unlimited board games(happily teaching the kids early on what it means to lose), showed offhis yoga skills (including regular headstands in the living room), andchased the kids with pillows (even administering what may have been amild concussion to one of the grandchildren). He loved to be part ofeven the most routine parts of the kids' lives, including taking them toschool and attending endless graduations, plays and performances. Allan is survived by his wife Twyla; his son Kirk and Kirk's wife Heidiand their daughter Elise; his son Eric and his partner Leslie and Eric'schildren Reed and Mackenzie; Allan's older brother, Chuck Barnes; hisyounger sister, Geri Clough, and many nieces and nephews. Allan waspreceded in death by his oldest brother, Donald Barnes, his youngerbrother, Gordon Barnes, and his youngest sister, Linda Barnes. Funeral arrangements are being arranged and a service will be heldlater in the spring.

Allan W. Barnes

March 1, 1938 - February 27, 2025