Bob Barnes (cartoonist)

Robert Leslie Barnes (March 8, 1913 – November 12, 1970)^[4] was an American comic strip artist most notable for his marriage-themed gag panel The Better Half.

Bob Barnes
Born	Robert Leslie Barnes[1] March 8, 1913[2] Portland, Oregon, U.S.[3]
Died	November 12, 1970(1970-11-12) (aged 57) Carmel Valley, California,[4] U.S.
Nationality	American
Area(s)	Cartoonist
Notable works	The Better Half (1956–1971)
Awards	National Cartoonist Society Newspaper Panel Cartoon Award, 1958
Spouse(s)	Ruth

Barnes' first syndicated panel was Laugh of the Week / Laff of the Week from 1947 to 1951 succeeded by Double-Take from 1952 to 1957. Barnes launched The Better Half with the Register and Tribune Syndicate in 1956, doing the strip until his death from cancer on November 12, 1970. A few strips appeared after his death, continuing until 1971.^[3]

He received the National Cartoonists Society Newspaper Panel Cartoon Award for The Better Half in 1958.^[5]

Personal life

His wife, Ruth, collaborated with him on his work, and took over writing The Better Half upon his demise.^[4]