Shizue "Sue" Onuki Barnes

SHIZUE “SUE” ONUKI BARNES, 87, of Havelock, passed away on September 26, 2020, from the result of Covid-19.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, December 27, 2021 at Forest Oaks Memorial Gardens located at 908 Lake Road, Havelock, NC .

Up until 2017, she lived several decades in Havelock, NC. Sue was born on January 11, 1933 in SANO, TOCHIGI-KEN, JAPAN to TAKA SATO and YASUSABURO ONUKI, and spent the majority of her childhood in UTSONOMIYA-SHI, TOCHIGI-KEN, JAPAN. She, along with her parents and six siblings (brothers: KAZUO, YOSHINORI, HIDEO; sisters: HANAKO, KIMIKO, TAIKO), survived WWII. SHIZUE, which means “Quiet Branch,” was often a force to be reckoned with. One of her favorite sayings was, “No more gohan, pretty soon die!” whenever her rice supply ran low. She would laugh about it, but we understood its somber meaning from having endured the war.

SUE met GLEN EUGENE BARNES, IN YAMAMOTO-SHI who was stationed with the US Marine Corp nearby and were married in TOKYO, Japan on JULY 24, 1956. In 1961, Sue proudly became a US citizen. Although she was primarily a homemaker while daughters, JANICE and SHEILA, were at home, she later worked in the kitchen at Graham A. Barden Elementary School. She became an accomplished seamstress after taking a dress maker’s course in Japan, and made most of her own, and her daughters’ clothing. Sue spent many years enjoying her membership in the Japanese Women’s Group at First Baptist Church in Havelock. A beloved Grandma, Sue spent many hours baking and mailing chocolate chip cookies to her grandchildren. When her grandchildren lived in Havelock, her home was the favorite spot for a sleepover. Sue’s home never lacked a favorite food, snack or drink for her grandchildren, or anyone else who stopped by for a visit - it was like having your own 24-hour diner. She had a way to make those around her laugh. Her smiling face and laughter will be deeply missed, along with her generosity.

SUE was preceded in death by her husband, parents, and her siblings. Left to keep memories of Sue alive are daughters: JANICE COBLE, and husband, HJ (Tecumseh, MO), and SHEILA BARNES (Emerald Isle, NC); Grandchildren: HJ “Joe” COBLE, JR (Silver Spring, MD), ELIZABETH EAKLES, and husband JOHNNY (Weatherford, TX), KENT COBLE, and wife, ANDREA (Ft. Worth, TX), EUGENE COBLE (Orlando, FL), and CRAIG COBLE (Rexburg, ID); Great-Grandchildren: LILY COBLE, LORALI, JOHNNY BROKK and PIPER EAKLES. Other family members include her husband’s surviving siblings and their spouses, countless nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, great-great nieces and great-great nephews in the United States and Japan.

Family and friends are welcome to submit online condolences at www.mundenfuneralhome.net

Arrangements by Munden Funeral Home and Crematory in Morehead City, NC.