Herald Lee Barnett

Herald Lee Barnett of Bellevue, Ohio, passed away Saturday, January 17, 2026, at the Bellevue Hospital from a brief illness. He was born July 14, 1925, in Mount Vernon, Ohio, the son of Homer and Bessie (Skeels) Barnett.

He married Valeda Sowell on October 1, 1955, in New York City. They graduated from the Watchtower & Bible Tract Society School of Gilead in 1957. Together, they enjoyed a wonderful life until Valeda passed away on June 3, 2015.

The two of them spent many years in foreign and domestic missionary work. They served in such Bible teaching work in Minnesota, Wisconsin, New York, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Ohio, as well as four years in Uruguay, South America. They settled into the Bellevue, Ohio Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, where Lee served as an elder for decades.

He is survived by a niece, Faye Givens of Huber Heights; her son, Mark Givens of Round Rock, Texas; a nephew, Mark Barnett of Springs Hill, Florida; and a nephew, James Barnett of Tampa, Florida. Lee is also survived by a very large spiritual family who are all going to miss him very much!

In addition to his wife and parents, Lee was also preceded in death by his four brothers. Can’t wait to see you again, our forever friend!

Foos and Foos Funeral Service, Bellevue is assisting with arrangements.