George Washington Barnett, Jr. died of lymphoma Jan. 16 in Salida.
George was born in Minturn on July 5, 1934, to Mae (Wyatt) and George Barnett, Sr. He had one sister, Anna Mae, who preceded him in death.
At the time of Georgeâs birth, his father was a miner at Gilman. George grew up around his extended family, which had moved west to Colorado from Appalachia.
George graduated from Rifle Union High School. He served in the U.S. Army.
George was a telegrapher for the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad, working at stations throughout Colorado and Eastern Utah.
He attended Mesa Junior College in Grand Junction, eventually graduating from the University of Colorado. Later, he earned a Masters degree from the University of Denver.