Brian R. Barns, Former Coburn and Seiko Executive, Dies at 67
MUSKOGEE, Okla.—Brian R. Barns, a veteran optical executive, died of cancer at Muskogee Regional Medical Center on April 2. He was 67 years old.
Barns was born in Detroit, Michigan on Oct. 1, 1940 to James Kent Barns and Jean Langdon Barns. A 1958 Muskogee High School graduate, he was employed by Coburn Optical from 1960 to 1983, advancing from the machine shop to vice president of sales. He co-founded Optical Innovations with Dan Simon, and later worked for Seiko Optical, retiring in 2002 as national sales manager.
Barns was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Douglas Ross Barns. He is survived by a daughter, Susannah Langdon Stephens, her husband, Steve, a son, Nathan Denton Barns of Tulsa; Suzanne Barns Fleming, the mother of his children; his brother, Jim Barns of Muskogee; grandson Wyatt Cole Stephens, two nieces, Sherry Orr and Susan Forrest and friend, Robert Heisley of Carrollton, Texas.
Donations can be made to First Baptist Church Mexico Missions, an organization whose work Barns supported. The group’s address is 111 S. 7th St., Muskogee, Okla., attention Patti Coe.
Funeral services will be 1:00 p.m. Monday, April 7, 2008 at First Baptist Church, 111 S. 7th St., Muskogee, Okla. Honorary pallbearers will be Harry Goaz, Robert Heisley, Chris McCord, Dan Simon and Tom Coburn.