William Kenneth Barnes

William Kenneth (Ken) Barnes went to be with the Lord and Savior on Thursday, July 16, 2026, at Methodist Medical Center in Oak Ridge. Ken was the son of Emil Victor and Martha Shannon Barnes. He was born on February 20, 1949, in Oak Ridge and was a 1967 graduate of Oak Ridge High School. After high school, Ken moved to Chattanooga to attend Chattanooga State Technical Institute, where he received his Associate of Engineering degree. Afterward, he accepted a position with the Tennessee Valley Authority and moved to Knoxville, where he met his wife, Joyce. He and Joyce recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in February.

An avid lover of the outdoors, Ken’s dream was to live on the water, so he and Joyce built their home and raised their two sons on the banks of the Clinch River in Clinton. He was heavily involved in his sons’ activities in sports and scouting, coaching, and refereeing basketball and soccer, and serving as scout leader for Troop 131 in Clinton. He served his community as a substitute teacher for Clinton City Schools, where he was also involved in the Parent Teacher Association and was an active participant in Habitat for Humanity. His dedication to youth and service to the community at large was a cornerstone of his life, driven by a deep desire to give back to the place he called home.

After 19 years with TVA, Ken began a career in real estate, working as an Agent and Broker for several local agencies. His true passion, however, was in teaching others. He owned and operated the Professional School of Real Estate in Knoxville for over a decade. He was a lifelong student himself. Deeply inquisitive, Ken thoroughly enjoyed studying various topics from real estate law to U.S. history and current affairs and willingly shared his knowledge and opinions with anyone who expressed interest. Beyond his academic pursuits, Ken was known for his wonderful sense of humor and a quick-witted laughter that could easily brighten any room.

Ken was a member of Memorial United Methodist Church, where he participated in the Wesley Men’s Bible Class.

Left to mourn his passing are his loving wife, Joyce; his two sons, Will and his wife Leeanne, and Joe and his wife Anna; his five grandchildren, Oliver, Lily, Georgia, Frances, and Benjamin, who were the joy of his life; his sister, Vicki Barnes and her husband Philip Ryan; along with many cousins and close friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held on August 1, 2026, at Holley Gamble Funeral Home in Clinton. Friends are invited to come by and pay their respects to their family beginning at 5 p.m., followed by the service at 7 p.m. The Reverend Amanda Madson is officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ken’s memory to the Clinch River Habitat for Humanity or the Knoxville Area Rescue Ministry.