James M. Barnes ’57

James M. Barnes ’57 died on February 22 surrounded by his family. Jim came to Dartmouth from Enid, Oklahoma, and majored in economics. He was president of Sigma Chi, served on the Interfraternity Council his senior year, and was a member of Sphinx. He was in the Navy ROTC and on its drill team. Graduation was followed by three years of sea duty aboard the aircraft carrier USS Shangri La in the Pacific Ocean. In 1960 he returned to Enid, joined his father in the insurance business, and married Letty. In 1970 Jim and Letty moved to Meridian, Idaho, and Jim set up his own insurance agency in nearby Boise, Idaho. In 1973 he merged it with the Boise Insurance Center, where he worked, except for a three-year sabbatical, until it was sold to Western States Insurance in 2005. He continued as an employee there until his retirement in 2009. During the past 48 years Jim was involved in the First Presbyterian Church, the Boise Valley Christian Communion, and The Pursuit. One of his great passions was serving on the board of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He is survived by Letty, his wife of 58 years; children Glenn, Nancy, Mary, and Anne; and their families.


Portfolio

Book cover for Conflict Resilience with blue and orange colors
Alumni Books
New titles from Dartmouth writers (May/June 2025)
Woman wearing collard shirt and blazer
Origin Story
Physicist Sara Imari Walker, Adv’10, goes deep on the emergence of life.
Commencement and Reunions

A sketchbook

Illustration of baseball player swinging a bat
Ben Rice ’22
A New York Yankee on navigating professional baseball

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