Tommy “Pork Chop” Barnes crossed his final goal line on August 22, 2021. He was at home with wife Claudy Barnes by his side, on the evening of their 56th anniversary.

Born June 30, 1938 to Guy Land Barnes and Kathryn Hobeck Barnes, Tom was raised by the Virginia Beach oceanfront “village.” Led by legendary Coach Fred Isaacs, Tom captained the football champion Virginia Beach High Seahawks, class of ‘57. He shined as an East-West All Star.

The U.S. Navy beckoned, and Tom served four years as an air traffic controller. Under the G.I. Bill and with mentorship by Dean William Whitehurst, Tom graduated from Old Dominion College in 1969. “Mr. Barnes” then enjoyed a long teaching career at Linkhorn Park Elementary, Cape Henry Collegiate (where he was the founding Athletic Director and Hall of Fame Coach), Career Development Center, and Kellam High School.

Tom married his high school sweetheart, Claudette Alden Tucker, also of oceanfront Virginia Beach. He is survived by her and by three of their children: Hazel Alden Barnes of Big Island, Hawaii; Guy Thomas Barnes (spouse Gretchen Barnes, d.2021) and Elizabeth Kincaid Barnes (spouse Bobby Davis), both of Virginia Beach; and by granddaughter, Mackenzie Jane Barnes. He was preceded in death by the second of their four children, Kathryn Barnes Ebersole (d.2016) (spouse Rick Ebersole) of Edenton, NC.

Tom was, above all, devoted to his family, teaching his children to swim and to love the beach, to enjoy sports and outdoor adventures, and to “never sweat the small stuff.” Tom’s stated wish was that, in his memory, everyone will take time encouraging a young person, always with plenty of humor.

A celebration of the wonderful Tom Barnes will be held in the fall. Memorial gifts may be made to Virginia Beach Sports Club Scholarship Foundation, P.O. Box 763, Virginia Beach, VA 23451.