Ryan M. Barnes was born on January 31, 1982, in The Republic of Singapore, the son of Dale E. and Mary S. Barnes. When he was just six months of age, he traveled to Thailand, The Philippines, Taiwan, and Hawaii en route to his new home in Cincinnati, Ohio.
He lived in Cincinnati for 2+ years, then moved to Ft Wayne, Indiana. He quickly made friends with the neighborhood children and enjoyed his pre-school life. Before turning 4, his training wheels were removed from his bicycle, and off he went.
After turning 5, Ryan returned to Cincinnati and started kindergarten. His new house was on a cul-de-sac with a lot of children. There were sports and all kinds of neighborhood games. It was a great street to grow up on, and Ryan made lifelong friends.
Ryan enjoyed many sports growing up, including Knothole Baseball, Soccer, Swim Team, Water Skiing, wakeboarding, and Snow Skiing. In high school, he played golf and was a proud member of the 1999 State Championship Lacrosse Team.
He was confirmed a member of the Armstrong Chapel United Methodist Church when he was 13 years old.
He was a member of the 2000 graduating class of Indian Hill High School, Cincinnati, Ohio, and attended The Ohio State University.
Over the next 20+ years, Ryan worked in the food service industry as a Chef at multiple restaurants in the Cincinnati area. Ryan was described as a conscientious, dependable, hard–working employee and a good mentor to new staff members. Ryan had a keen sense of humor and always enjoyed being the “funny man.” He was well-liked by all.
Throughout Ryan’s life, his passion was music. He was introduced to the Piano in the 2nd grade and the guitar in middle school. Over time, he became an accomplished guitarist and enjoyed jamming with his friends, playing gigs, and attending concerts. Ryan’s interest in music was very broad, but the band “Phish” was a favorite, and he attended many of their concerts around the country.
As an adult, Ryan continued to enjoy sports. He played Golf with his father, became an avid Disc Golf player, and enjoyed playing softball. He was a lifelong fan of the Cincinnati Reds and Bengals and was a very competitive player in fantasy sports, baseball, and football.
Ryan was never married but loved being with his family. He never missed a family or extended family gathering. He was especially close to his sister, Lyndsay, and loved being Uncle Ryan to her children Jacob and Lucas. His Mother and Father loved him deeply and were always there to support him.
Ryan had a big heart, an unforgettable laugh, and always looked for the good in people. He never wanted to see anyone mistreated. He lived his life always putting others first. He never had an unkind word to say about anyone. He loved his family and friends, and they loved him. His life was short, but these are good attributes to leave behind.
Ryan’s mother, Mary S. Barnes, passed away on August 24, 2021. In 2022, on this date, the family gathered in her memory. After visiting the cemetery, we stopped for a nice lunch. During lunch, Ryan advised us that if he were to die, he wished to be cremated and, as he described it, “have his ashes launched into space.” None of us had heard of Space Burials, so we just laughed it off, considering it to be another crazy idea of Ryan’s. We had no idea we were so close to losing him. After his passing, we researched and learned of Celestis and contacted them to assist in fulfilling Ryan’s wishes.
Ryan M. Barnes, age 40, of Cincinnati, Ohio, passed away suddenly of cardiac arrest at his home on Tuesday, September 20, 2022.
He is survived by his father, Dale E. Barnes; sister, Lyndsay (Jeremy) Pearson; and nephews, Jacob and Lucas Pearson.
