Obituaries

Gordon V. Barnes USDA Official

Gordon V. Barnes, 93, who ran the Agriculture Department's arbitration and complaint department from 1961 until his retirement in 1972, died July 6 at his home in Cheverly of complications from a stroke.

Mr. Barnes began his career with the Agriculture Department in 1935 as a clerk and became a marketing specialist, settling disputes between produce farmers and produce markets and stores. He later supervised and trained marketing specialists.

Gordon Vincent Barnes, a native of Attica, N.Y., served in the Army during World War II. He lived in the District, settling in Cheverly in 1963.

He was a member of the Cheverly Swim and Racquet Club and ran the interclub tennis program. He was a tennis team captain from 1970 to 1980 and competed in tournaments for seniors in the mid-Atlantic and Florida region until he was 83. He also played for and was a captain of the Agriculture Department's tennis team.

He was a member of St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Cheverly, where he was a past president of the men's club.

He volunteered for Meals on Wheels in Cheverly for 22 years and was a member of the American Legion.

His wife of 54 years, Bernardine Klein Barnes, died in 1992. Their son Douglas Barnes died in 2002.

Survivors include five sons, Walter Barnes of Attica, William Barnes of Cheverly, Michael Barnes of Westminster, Md., Charles Barnes of Dunkirk and Robert Barnes of Baltimore; two sisters; 13 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

-- Lauren Wiseman

James H. Duffy Capitol Hill Lawyer

James H. Duffy, 91, who for 20 years was chief counsel to a Senate subcommittee on elections and who later served on the U.S. Postal Rate Commission, died July 11 at his home in Indian Rocks Beach, Fla. He had dementia.