William Barnes Obituary

The Rev. William Seth Barnes

AVON

The Rev. William Seth Barnes, of Avon, Pastor Emeritus of Prospect United Methodist Church, Bristol, died peacefully on July 26, 2025. He was born on July 4, 1936, in Bristol, to the late Clarkson Seth and Pauline (Hagerman) Barnes.

He received a B.A. from Wesleyan University (58), a M. Div. from Yale University Divinity School (62), and an American Studies M.A. from Trinity College (91). Bill did continuing education at the Pacific School of Religion, Union Theological Seminary, and Regina College, with further study in Jerusalem and Great Britain.

Bill was predeceased by his wife of 64 years, Patricia (Corcoran) Barnes, and his son, Ronald William Barnes. He leaves his son, Richard Seth Barnes (Linh Ta and her daughter, Trang) of Florida; his daughter, Rebecca Barnes Reppucci (Steve)of Massachusetts; his daughter-in-law, Maureen Barnes, of Avon; four grandchildren, Christopher Seth and Emma Nicole Barnes, Anthony Steven and Zachary William Reppucci; his brother, James Clarkson Barnes (Ruth, deceased), of Colorado; his sister, Kathryn Barnes Dube (John) of Bristol; five nieces and a nephew; and several grandnieces and grandnephews.

Ordained a minister in the NY Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, receiving Deacon's Orders in 1960 and Elders Orders in 1963, he served as pastor of the North Canton Community and Washington Hill United Methodist Churches in North Canton and Barkhamsted, the Westville United Methodist Church in New Haven, Jesse Lee United Methodist Church in Easton and Prospect United Methodist Church in Bristol where he was honored to be named Pastor Emeritus on his retirement in 2002. During retirement, he served as interim pastor of the Lakeville United Methodist Church in Salisbury, Wethersfield United Methodist Church, West Hartford United Methodist Church, and West Avon Congregational Church. In 1977, he took leave from ministry to work for the Bristol Press Publishing Company which his family owned and operated from the beginning of the 20th Century. He served as publisher of the Farmington Valley Herald, Thomaston Express and Plainville News. Following the sale of the company, he returned to parish ministry. Music was a special part of Bill's life. He played viola for the Wesleyan Chamber Orchestra, the New Haven Civic Orchestra, the Sacred Heart University Chamber Orchestra in Fairfield, the Bridgeport Civic Orchestra, the Bristol Symphony Orchestra and for the past several decades the Farmington Valley Symphony Orchestra, a highlight of which was performing in a concert at Carnegie Hall. He was also an avid skier through his mid-70s and took great pride in skiing at Stowe for 65 consecutive years. He enjoyed tennis and swimming, and bicycle riding well into his later years. A lifelong railroad fan, Bill attended the Hands on the Throttle program at the Valley Railroad in Essex running steam engine No. 40, and operated a trolley car at the Connecticut Trolley Museum in East Windsor. Bill treasured memories of childhood summers with his grandparents in Burtts Corner, New Brunswick, a college summer in Cuba, and family vacations at his Nantucket house. With his wife, he led Holy Land travel-study tours to Israel, Egypt, and Jordan, as well as education tours in England and Scotland and even the Oberammergau Passion Play. He served on various boards including the Farmington Valley Symphony Orchestra, the Bristol Salvation Army Advisory Board, the Farmington River Watershed Association, Bristol United Way, Avon Dollars for Scholars, and the Avon United Fund. A Rotarian since 1973, beginning in Bridgeport and continuing in Bristol and Avon, he was a past president of the Rotary Club of Avon-Canton where he was named a Paul Harris Fellow.

Bills' family will receive friends Saturday, September 13th, from 10-11 a.m. followed by a Memorial Service at 11 a.m. at the Carmon Funeral Home & Family Center, 301 Country Club Road, Avon, with a reception to follow. The service will be live streamed; visit Carmon Funeral Home's website at: www.carmonfuneralhome.com to access the link. Burial will be at the convenience of the family. Memorial contributions may be made to the Farmington Valley Symphony Orchestra Endowment Fund, 222 Main St, Box 273, Farmington, Connecticut 06032, or to the Prospect United Methodist Church Book of Remembrance, 99 Summer Street, Bristol, Connecticut 06010.