Barnabas Esparza, 86, passed away on March 16, 2024, at his home in Oklahoma City. Funeral services will begin at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, March 21, 2024 at the Strode Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens. Strode Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Barney was born the sixth child of Cruz Joseph Esparza and Celestine (Dearborne) Esparza on June 11, 1937, in Arkansas City, Kansas. He was raised in Stillwater, OK, and graduated from St. Francis Xavier School in 1952 and Stillwater High School in 1956, where he excelled in drafting classes and wrestling. He grew up on the family farm in the heart of Stillwater, a short walk from Stillwater Station, Perkins Road, and Boomer Creek.

Barney served more than 20 years in the armed forces of his country. At age 17, he enlisted in the 120th Engineers of the 45th Infantry Brigade, Oklahoma Army National Guard, and was honorably discharged as a Sergeant in 1958. In 1955, he was dispatched with his unit to Blackwell, OK, to assist in recovery operations following the Great Plains Outbreak and the Blackwell Tornado. The memories of this destruction would remain with him for the rest of his life.

In 1958, he enlisted in the US Army at Ft. Polk (Johnson); he was eventually assigned as a Combat Engineer in the 101st Airborne Division at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, where, as a non-commissioned officer, he earned his rating as a Parachutist and Jump Master. In 1961, he served a tour of duty on the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in Korea with the 1st Cavalry Division, where he was honored as Soldier of the Year for the 8th Engineer Battalion. He returned to Ft. Campbell and the 101st, where he was honorably discharged in 1964, having achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant. In 1979, Barney enlisted as a Senior Airman in the United States Air Force Reserve at March AFB, California. He served in the 452nd and 414th MSES Clinics and retired from the Air Force Reserve in 1992 as a Master Sergeant (MSgt). During his service, MSgt (Ret) Esparza was the recipient of the Korean Defense Service Medal, the Air Force Achievement Medal for outstanding service, and the Air Force Commendation Medal for meritorious service.

It was during his second tour at Ft. Campbell that the Cuban Missile Crisis occurred. In October 1962, Sergeant Esparza and his unit were deployed on the runway in readiness to parachute in as part of a full-scale invasion of Cuba. In the middle of the crisis, on October 27th, Barney was able to get a very quick pass to go to Nashville to marry Norma Louise "Nonie" Oats at St. Ann's Catholic Church, where he and his best man had their parachutes in tow for the ceremony. Barney and Nonie would be married for 28 years upon her death in Loma Linda, California, in 1990.

Barney received post-secondary education at Oklahoma State University, Santa Barbara City College, and Los Angeles Harbor College. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Technology (Diagnostic) in 1976. He held memberships in the American Society of Radiologic Technology and the California and Oklahoma Societies of Radiologic Technology and was a registered R.T. in California and Oklahoma. He began his medical career at Edmond Memorial Hospital in Edmond, moving to California to take a position at Loma Linda University Hospital in Loma Linda, California. While there, he completed a two-year program for certification in Cardiovascular Technology and had a distinguished career from 1981 to 1991 as a radiation specialist and education coordinator. One highlight of this period was his imaging work with Dr. Leo Bailey's team conducting xenogeneic transplant research.

In 1992, Barney returned to Oklahoma and took a position at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences as an Assistant Clinical Professor, and a year later, was appointed as an Assistant Professor of Radiologic Technology in the OU College of Allied Health. Barney spent many rewarding years overseeing clinicals and teaching in Health Sciences classrooms, retiring in 2001 with the designation of Professor Emeritus from the University of Oklahoma Board of Regents.

It was also after his return to Oklahoma City that he met and fell in love with Phyllis Annette Jones. Barney and Annette were married on October 1, 1999, at St. Andrews Catholic Church in Moore, Oklahoma. He also became stepfather to two, grandfather to six, and eventually great-grandfather to six.

Barney was an avid sportsman and athlete and held membership in the American Bowling Association and the United States Golf Association. He kept the single bowling pin from his just-short-of-perfect 299 game on his mantle for many years. He supported OU and OSU Wrestling programs and attended OSU in 1956 on an NCAA Wrestling scholarship. Barney and Annette took several trips together, and Barney played golf on many of them, including courses in Australia, Canada, and Mexico. Barney's obsession was OU Football, and he was a long-time season ticket holder. He loved his Sooners and followed them all over the country. He served a number of years on the Board of Directors of the Sooner Club of Southern California and joined the club on chartered flights and game day events.

Barney was devoted to his dogs and koi fish and would often tear up with emotion when talking about them. He loved family and family reunions and was known for producing videos and photo montages of family members that he would share. He also brought joy to many dressed as Barney the Dinosaur, a role he wholeheartedly embraced in all his purple splendor.

Barney is preceded in death by his spouse, Nonie; father, Cruz Esparza; mother, Celestine (Dearborne) Esparza; brother, Edward Esparza; sisters, Doris Bastion, and Bernita Baker, and great-granddaughter, Lillian Gaddy.

He is survived by hundreds who shared his love: nieces and nephews across the generations, adopted grandchildren and great-grandchildren, godsons, and goddaughters, and many wonderful friends. He is survived by his spouse, Annette Jones-Esparza, stepdaughter Jennifer Jones, stepson Daniel Jones, grandchildren Rachel (Tim), Lauren Jones, Haley Jones, Jeffrey Wood, Levi Wood, Lacey (Richard); great-grandchildren Jordan Gaddy, Logan Gaddy, Dylan Gaddy, Cameron Boatright, Raelynn Boatright, and Matthew Wood, and his siblings: Madonna Schafers, Matilda Schafers, Celestine Johnson, Carmen Ellison, Dolores Conway, John Esparza, Margaret Medlin, and Thomas Esparza.


Annette would like to thank Dr. David Lam and his staff at SSM Healthcare for their excellent care, kindness, and compassion, Haley Jones for her help and devotion over the last three years, and all of their wonderful neighbors for being "on call" for assistance and support.

In lieu of customary remembrances the family requests donations be made in Barney's name to Mutt Misfits, https://muttmisfits.org