Lights to Remember to honor Dr. Carnes

Parkview Huntington Hospital and the Parkview Huntington Foundation invite community members to share the comfort of fellowship and remember lost loved ones at the second annual Lights to Remember, Sunday, December 3, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the hospital, 2001 Stults Road in Huntington.

The event will begin with a moment of silent reflection and the lighting of candles to remember guests’ loved ones who have passed. Music and words from Doug Selig, vice president, patient care services, Parkview Huntington Hospital and Parkview Wabash Hospital, will also unite attendees in honoring the memory of those who are missed especially during the holiday season.

Selig will also pay special tribute to the life of beloved Huntington physician and community leader Dr. J. David Carnes, who passed away in March.

“Dr. Carnes was a true champion for our community and Parkview Huntington Hospital,” said Selig. “We’re honored that the Carnes family is allowing us to memorialize him at this event.”

Remembering Dr. Carnes

Dr. Carnes cared for multiple generations of patients across four decades, becoming a trusted health expert and advisor for hundreds of local families.

Dr. Carnes was part of the Huntington community nearly all his life. A 1970 Huntington North High School graduate, Carnes earned his bachelor’s degree from Notre Dame University and his medical degree from Indiana University Medical School. He completed his primary care residency through the Fort Wayne Medical Education Program and joined Family Practice Associates, which eventually became Parkview Physicians Group – Family Medicine, in Huntington in 1982.

He remained an active staff member with Parkview Huntington Hospital until his retirement on February 28, 2019. During those years, he played a vital role when Huntington Memorial Hospital joined Parkview Health, and he became a physician leader. He served on the Parkview Health Board of Directors from 1995 to 2004 and the Parkview Huntington Foundation Board of Directors from 2020 to 2022. In 2017, his lifetime of dedicated service to patients was honored at the Parkview Huntington Foundation Gala as he was presented with the Dr. R.B. Peare and Dr. John B. Kay Award for Excellence in Healthcare.

A friendly, thoughtful, compassionate person, Carnes cared deeply for his family, friends, patients and community. A member of Huntington’s St. Mary Catholic Church, he served as the physician for the Our Lady of Victory Missionary Sisters (Victory Noll Sisters) for some years. In addition to his leadership and service with Parkview, he was also a board member for First Federal Savings Bank, Pathfinders and the Huntington County Historical Society. He was a Life Member of the Academy of Family Physicians and a volunteer clinical assistant professor of family medicine from 1993 to 2017.

Carnes also was a co-founder of Huntington County Honors, which brings attention to the life achievements of noteworthy Huntington citizens past and present. This year, the organization created a Humanitarian Service Award in his name to recognize individuals or groups for selfless humanitarian efforts and achievements that exemplify the compassion and caring that Dr. Carnes demonstrated in his life.

A tribute with a purpose

Through the Parkview Huntington Foundation, a fund has been established as an additional tribute to Dr. Carnes. The Huntington Outdoor Wellness Fund will support outdoor wellness initiatives including upgrades to the walking trail and construction of a pavilion on the Parkview Huntington Hospital campus. Dr. Carnes was a strong proponent of being active outdoors and walking for health, and the intent of the fund is to encourage such activity. With the creation of a pavilion, hospital and medical office building co-workers, visitors to the campus and area residents will have a venue that can be used for picnics, or outdoor meetings and small get-togethers.

At Lights to Remember, individuals can pay $10 to have their loved one’s name displayed during the event and receive a handmade ornament in the shape of a star as a special keepsake. Proceeds raised will benefit the Huntington Outdoor Wellness Fund. Individuals who are unable to attend Lights to Remember can still receive the keepsake by paying $10 online.

Registration is required for Lights to Remember. Visit parkview.com/lightstoremember to register and donate by Wednesday, November 22. Guests may bring other family members or friends along with them. The number of guests should be specified on the online registration form.

Sponsorships are still available for this event. Information can be found at the above link.

Questions about the event may be directed to Alyssa Noble at (260) 355-3316 or alyssa.noble@parkview.com.