About Us

Eaton High School 1959 graduate; attended Wilmington College; Graduated Cum Laude from Cincinnati College of Embalming - 1962; Alpha Chapter - Pi Sigma Eta Fraternity; Charter Member of Eaton Emergency Squad and first  Squad Chief 1972-1976; Member and Past President 1987 Eaton Area Chamber of Commerce; Life Member and Past President & Past Secretary of Eaton Lions Club; Lions International Distinguished Service Award - Eaton Lions Club 1989; Melvin Jones Fellow - Lions International; National Funeral Directors Association; Ohio Funeral Directors Association; Member - Past President - Past Treasurer - 4th District Ohio Funeral Directors Association; Ohio Embalmers Association; Concord Church; Charter Member Preble County Y.M.C.A.; Preble County Jury Commissioner; Former member and Past Treasurer - Eaton Foundation; Member Human Rights Committee at Foundations and Preble County Historical Society.

1966 Eaton High School graduate; Served in the United States Army, Sergeant receiving the Army Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service while in Vietnam during 1968 to 1969; Graduate of Miami-Jacobs College Associate Degree in Business Administration and Higher Accounting; Attended Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio for Pre-Mortuary Science Education; 1974 Graduate of Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science; InSight Institute Certified Professional Funeral Celebrant.

Memberships & Associations: Eaton Community Church; Eaton Rotary Club - Past President 1979-1980, 39 years Treasurer 1980 to 2019, Paul Harris Fellow and  Rotarian of The Year 2001 & 2017; Past member of the Preble County Commissioner of Board of Veteran's Services for 35 years; Life Member Preble County Memorial V.F.W. Post 8066, St. Clair Post 215 American Legion, Vietnam Veterans of America; Ohio Embalmers Association & Ohio & National Funeral Directors Association and Kentucky Colonel.

Brian is a 1983 graduate of Eaton High School; Attended Wilmington College; Gamma Phi Gamma Fraternity; 2004 Fall Graduate of Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science; Bachelor Degree in Applied Science in Mortuary Science; National Board Examination; Registered with the International Conference of Funeral Service; Ohio Embalmers Association; Cincinnati Foundation for Mortuary Education; Member Eaton Chamber of Commerce; Lewisburg Chamber of Commerce; New Paris Chamber of Commerce; Monument Builders of Ohio; Monument Builders of North America; Eaton Lions Club Assistant Secretary & Secretary; Received the Governor's Achievement Award for Outstanding Lions Secretary District 13-H; Past President 1998 - 1999; Lions International Melvin Jones Fellow & Life Member; Distinguished Service Award; Leo Club Advisor; Zone Chairman District 13-H; District Membership Chairman District 13-H; District Newsletter Editor and Judge 1997-1998; State Band Chairman District 13-H; International Convention Committee & Delegate; Board of Directors Ohio Lions Pin Traders; Life Member of the Buckeye Big Buck Club and Preble County Ducks Unlimited Committee 1994 - 1997. Brian and Erin are the proud parents Matthew (Jennifer) Barnes and Christina (Jacob) Duffy and three grandsons, Reed, Jameson and Declan.

Michael is a 1993 Eaton High School graduate and a Spring 2004 Graduate of Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science with a Bachelor Degree in Applied Science in Mortuary Science.  Michael also has his Masters certificate in Funeral Service through the Ohio Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors.  Accreditation from the National Board Examination for Funeral Directors and Embalmers.  Registered with the International Conference of Funeral Service, Ohio Embalmers Association and the Cincinnati Foundation for Mortuary Education and InSight Institute Certified Professional Funeral Celebrant.

Member Eaton Chamber of Commerce, Lewisburg Chamber of Commerce and New Paris Chamber of Commerce.  Michael is the son of Bruce L. & Rayna E. Barnes.  Michael and his wife, Stephanie (Hoff) Barnes and their two children, Sawyer and Brooklyn Barnes live in Lewisburg, Ohio.  Michael has lived most of his life in Preble County either above a funeral home or next door to a funeral home which includes all three locations of Barnes Funeral Homes in Eaton, Lewisburg and New Paris.  Member of Cornerstone Grace Church in Eaton, Ohio where Michael and Stephanie currently serve the LORD in various church functions and ministries.

Erin, a native of California has proudly called Preble County her home since 1979. She is a 1984 graduate of Eaton High School and a 1986 graduate of Miami University in Oxford where she received her Associate of Arts degree with a minor in Early Childhood Education. Shortly after her marriage to Brian R. Barnes in May of 1986 Erin began her Funeral Directors apprenticeship under the direction of her father-in-law Robert C. Barnes and received her Funeral Directors license in October of 1988. In addition to her duties with the funeral home, Erin has served as a precinct judge for the Preble County Board of Elections and has volunteered her time with various organizations at Tri County North Schools. Erin is a member of the National Funeral Directors Association, the Ohio Funeral Directors Association and the Ohio Embalmers Association. Since their marriage in 1986 Erin and Brian have called Lewisburg their home and are the proud parents of Matthew (Jennifer) Barnes and Christina (Jacob) Duffy and grandsons, Reed, Jameson and Declan.

Having been raised in the military, she lived in many different places in the U.S. including numerous Army Posts. Her and her family were stationed in Germany from 1960 to 1963; She is a 1968 graduate of East High School in Denver Colorado.  Past member of Delta Theta Tau Sorority; Cashier at City loan and Savings; Encoder in the Billing and Accounting dept of Browning Manufacturing, and Receptionist for Bullen Ultrasonics and Silfex of Eaton, Ohio.  Member of Eaton Community Church and past member and Leader in Bible Study Fellowship Intl. for many years.  Wife of Bruce L. Barnes.  Rayna and her husband Bruce are the parents three children and  6 grandchildren. She enjoys gardening and traveling.

Stephani is a graduate of Franklin High School; Honorary graduate of Gawler High School in South Australia; Graduate of Miami University with a bachelors degree in Political Science and a minor in Aerospace Studies; Lambda Chapter of Kappa Phi Sorority; active member at Grace Cornerstone Church in Eaton, Ohio.  Wife of Michael Barnes.

Carolyn "Jill" Vaniman, who is a licensed funeral Director has been active in many activities in Eldorado and Monroe Township.

Bob is a retired Preble County school teacher. He is an avid sports fan of The Ohio State University and loves to fish. Bob and his wife Jane attend Concord United Church of Christ.