[Oe List ...] Rupert Barnes 1930-2008

[Herman Greene]

Linda,

 

It's nice to hear from you. Thinking of you and your family.

 

Herman

 

  _____  

From: oe-bounces at wedgeblade.net [mailto:oe-bounces at wedgeblade.net] On Behalf
Of Linda Barnes
Sent: Friday, April 11, 2008 7:09 PM
To: oe at wedgeblade.net
Subject: [Oe List ...] Rupert Barnes 1930-2008

 

 

 

Dear Friends and Colleagues

 

Rupert's passing was both expected and unexpected in that he was suffering
from irreversible pulmonary fibrosis (probably all those dusty roads in
Kenya where he hitch-hiked from one place to another). In any event, while
his physical suffering was increasing, I guess his heart just said "enough"
and he died quite suddenly in the home of Pensie Alexander, an old friend
and farming neighbor from his early Kenya days. 

 

It was his wish to die in Kenya and when he returned there from the USA and
UK in March this year everyone knew that it would probably be his last of
many returns to his chosen home.  His wish was to be buried at Kamweleni,
one of the Kenya projects started by the Institute of Cultural Affairs
during the 1980's.  When Rupert finally "settled" from his mendicant
life-style, it was to Kamweleni where he continued to engage in the
community and in his passionate dedication to local farmers and schools.

 

Rupert was a frequent visitor to the US and to Portland, San Francisco and
here in Durango where Abednego, Daudi and Jonathan live along with five
grandchildren who all enjoyed his company during his annual sojourns through
the US.  As many of you know he made the most of his visits and kept in
touch with colleagues from the east coast to the west coast.

 

While in Durango he was active in St. Marks Episcopal church where he became
a member.  St. Marks became a supporter of the schools in Kamweleni.

 

In May there will be a memorial service for Rupert in Kamweleni.  Details
will be posted on the website referenced below.  There have been many
colleagues who have memorialized the "wild man" as he was affectionately
referred to in our community (the Ecumenical Institute/ICA/Order
Ecumenical).  There is a place on the web to continue these offerings and
reflections at http://twiki.wedgeblade.net/bin/view.cgi/Main/CompletedLives
under his name.

 

Those of you who might wish to contribute to the Kamweleni schools there is
a fund overseen by St. Marks Church in Durango, CO and checks could be made
to "The Kamweleni High School Fund" and sent to St. Marks Church, 910 East
3rd Avenue, Durango, CO 81301.  

 

As the person who married Rupert Barnes in 1967 on the same day we arrived
at the doorstep of the Ecumenical Institute/Order Ecumenical, I think I can
say for both of us that we would have had it no other way even though our
"ways" separated.  His spirit was wide and deep, centered and tortured,
clear and convoluted; indeed one of God's wild ones!  

 

"This ultimate stage of our spiritual existence is called Silence. Every
person, after completing his service in all labors, reaches finally the
highest summit of endeavor, beyond every labor, where he no longer struggles
or shouts, where he ripens fully in silence, indestructibly, eternally, with
the entire Universe." Nikos Kazantzakis The Saviors of God

 

Linda Rolfing Barnes

 

 

 

 

 

Linda R. Barnes, CNM

3055 East 4th Ave

Durango, CO 81301

Home:  970-382-0338

Mobile: 970-759-4239

 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://wedgeblade.net/pipermail/oe_wedgeblade.net/attachments/20080416/f6962f4d/attachment.html