John E. Barker

John E. Barker, 89, of Brocton died on Friday, July 9, 2021 at Arbor Rose of Charleston.

John was born on September 15, 1931 in Chicago to William and Florence Idelle (Bradford) Barker.  He married Virginia Spittler on December 28, 1951.

He is survived by two children, Brad (Cheryl) Barker of Charleston and Vikki Barker of Terre Haute, IN; five grandchildren, Ian Huffington, Sarah (Patrick) Duncan, Shenandoah (Kyle) Drake, Isaac (Ashley) Barker, and Adam Barker; and four great-grandchildren, Oliver, Emmerson, Easton, and Annabelle.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife Virginia Barker who passed away on September 9, 2015.

John attended grade school in Chicago before moving to Paris where he would graduate from Paris High School in 1950.  After graduation he went to work for A Frey & Son before entering the Army.  He served 6 years in the National Guard before he went overseas to serve in the Korean War.  John was also a farmer and began farming in 1953 until his retirement in the fall of 1996.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, July 12, 2021 at the Joines Funeral Home (Newman) with Mr. Doug Rund officiating.  Burial will follow at the Payne Cemetery north of Brocton.  A visitation will be held an hour prior to the funeral service (10-11 a.m.).

Memorial donations may be made to the Brocton American Legion where John was a 67 year member.

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