J.D. Barker

JD Barker

92 a resident of Cane Hill, Arkansas passed away January 19, 2016 at Willard Walker Hospice Home in Fayetteville. He was born October 18, 1923 in Magna City, Kansas, the son of Norman and Effie Harmon Barker.

JD played varsity basketball at Douglas, Kansas. He did not complete the final weeks of his senior year to join the Army after Pearl Harbor was bombed and World War II declared. While in the Army he received his medic training in Fort Robinson, Arkansas, Fort Simmons, Colorado and Fort Lewis, Washington. During his service in the Army he was stationed at Pearl Harbor, Marshal Islands, Leyte, Guam, Ormoc, where he was wounded and received a Purple Heart, and in Okinawa until the war ended and the peace treaty was signed.

JD married the love of his life, Ida Belle Campbell in Tucson, Arizona on March 25, 1951.

They moved from Tucson to Morrow in 1958 where they raised beef cattle for most of their lives. JD worked in nursing for 35 years at the VA Hospital in Fayetteville and then many years in home health.

After family, JD’s greatest passion was fishing. He went on countless fishing trips with his wife, siblings, children and grandchildren, as well as his nieces and nephews. He had a beautiful singing voice and made volunteer performances with Tommi Ryan and Harold Chilton. He was very giving and kind hearted and loved to work and continued to do so by volunteering for meals on wheels and the Teen Ranch in Morrow.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Ida, his parents and step-father Wade, three brothers Norman, Henry and Jack and three sisters Ramona, Phyllis and Naomi.

Survivors include three sons Jeffery David Barker and wife Cheryl, James Sidney Barker and wife Barbara and Jay Don Barker and wife Karen all of Morrow; two daughters Jenevieve Ida Barker of Morrow and Janet Eileen McConnell and husband Jim of Fayetteville; one sister Nancy Sullivan of Temple Terrace, Florida; thirteen grandchildren, numerous great grandchildren and his best friend Tommi Ryan.

The family will receive friends on Thursday evening from 6:00-7:00 P.M. at Luginbuel Funeral Home.

Funeral service will be held Friday, January 22, 2016 - 10:00 A.M. at Luginbuel Chapel in Prairie Grove with Rev. Harold Chilton officiating. Burial will be in Bethesda Cemetery in Morrow, Arkansas.

Pallbearers will be: Jeff Barker, Jim Barker, Jay Barker, Josh Barker, Jameson Barker and Travis Barker

Online guest book, www.luginbuel.com