James Oliver Barnes

James Oliver Barnes left this world on July 26, 2026, surrounded by family. He lived an inspiring and fulfilling 81 years fueled by love of family, curiosity, travel, and faith.
Jim forged his own path through life with quiet brilliance, bravery, and determination. Born on January 21, 1945, in Chicago, Illinois, he showed an avid interest in all things scientific that would carry him far: from the two-room schoolhouse he attended, to receiving a full-ride scholarship to the University of Illinois, then to Carnegie Mellon University, where he received a Ph.D in Physics.

While in Pittsburgh in 1970, Jim met the love of his life, a French teacher named Lynne Hamerly. Jim and Lynne were married on August 26, 1972, and moved to Fort Collins, Colorado in 1979, where they raised three children. A trained physicist, Jim fell into electrical engineering the way most people fall into far simpler careers; he made it look easy. After initially working in breast cancer research, he transitioned to a career in integrated circuit design, where he spent 33 years designing computer chips at Hewlett Packard, Agilent Technologies, and AMD that helped push forward the computer and Internet revolution that powers today’s modern life (and received 13 patents in the process). After retiring, he taught electrical engineering at Colorado State University for several years, focusing on analog circuits. Despite his many professional accolades, he was a humble man who never wanted to draw attention to himself.
Loving husband, father, and grandfather, Jim shared his love of the outdoors and travel with his family. He was also an avid reader, cyclist, soccer player, gardener, dapper wearer of bow-ties, and sweet tooth. This serious scientific mind of a man developed a dry sense of humor in his later years, as well as some excellent dance moves - always when he was dancing with his wife, children, or grandchildren. The most important things in his life were his family, the environment and its protection, justice for all, and his spiritual community, Mary of Magdala Church.

Jim is survived by his devoted wife, Lynne Marie Barnes; their three children, Chris Barnes and his wife Gisele Assink-Barnes, Melanie Barnes-Kluger and her husband Avi Kluger, Erin Barnes and her husband Shon Cobbs; and their four grandchildren, Callia Kluger, Adelyn Kluger, Camille Thompson, and Harrison Thompson.

The details of his celebration of life at Mary of Magdala Church will be shared later. Those who want to support Jim’s legacy can donate to Family Housing Network of Fort Collins. The family welcomes all friends, family, former colleagues, and others whose lives Jim touched to leave memories and well-wishes below.