Howard Carter Barker, 100, of St. Albans, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, February 16, 2003.
He was born November 8, 1902, the son of William and Brook Barker of Curry, Logan County.
He was a member of the Trinity Baptist Church, St. Albans. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and great-great grandfather who touched the lives of many people and loved God and his family more than anything. He is known locally for the huge garden that he tended each year until he was 96 years old.
He sang in the choir at Hansford Senior Center for many years. In younger days, he sang in gospel quartets, worked in the mines, worked for the railroad, was a salesman for Lantz Lumber Company, and was a house designer and builder.
He celebrated his 100th birthday at Riverside Nursing and Rehabilitation Center where he had been recuperating from a broken hip.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Opal F. Barker, his son and daughter-in-law, Rev. Robert J. an Peg Barker of Kinston, NC; his daughter and son-in-law, Ruth and J.V. Byrnside of St. Albans; daughter, Betty J. Hornoff of Warwick, RI; daughter and son-in-law, Marcella “Peggy” and Ross Spurlock of St. Albans; daughter and son-in-law, Patricia “Patti” and J. Allen Ruebush of Hurricane; sister, Sadie Smith of Chapmanville; 17 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren.
Services will be held on Thursday, February 20, 2003 at 1:00 PM at Trinity Baptist Church, St. Albans, with the Rev. Allen Stewart and Rev. Bob Barker officiating. Burial will be held in Cunningham Memorial Park, St. Albans. Friends may call on Wednesday from 6 to 8 PM at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in memory of Howard to Trinity Baptist Church, 2031 Harrison Avenue, St. Albans, West Virginia 25177.
Curry Funeral Home, Alum Creek, is in charge of arrangements.
I miss you every day, Granddad