A very beautiful husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather left this world to join his Heavenly Father on Wednesday, November 7, at 7:10 P.M. surrounded in his own bed by his wife Karen and younger daughter Candace. Stanley Bruce Barker was born on February 13, 1934 to Stanley McCoy Barker and Chloe Mildred Treece in Springfield, Ohio. His funeral will be on Saturday, November 17 at 3 P.M. with visitation starting at 2 P.M. at First Baptist Tucker; a reception at the church will follow.
The church is located at 5073 LaVista Road, Tucker, Georgia 30084. Stanley moved with his parents to towns along the Mississippi River where his father worked as a carnival stunt pilot and Link Trainer instructor. He ended up in Jonesboro, Arkansas where he attended a Catholic High school, graduating at the age of 16, and learning Latin which later proved to be invaluable in his extensive vocabulary.
After high school he attended the University of Arkansas for a brief time and then was sent to Germany during the Korean War to serve for three years, leaving the Army as a sergeant. After being in the military, he joined his mother in California and attended Glendale College where he became Student Body President and joined the Sig Phi Fraternity. The brothers in that group have remained his loyal friends to this day.
After Glendale College he proceeded to attend the University of California at Los Angeles in Economics with an emphasis in Marketing; from there he graduated with honors. In 1960 he met his wife to be, Karen Wilcox, in the Economics Building at UCLA, marrying her nearly two years later in May of 1962. From their union came two absolutely wonderful and talented daughters, Christiana (Jim) Philbin of Glenview, Illinois and Candace Rae (Brad) Godwin of Tucker, Georgia.
From these daughters were born Megan (Derek) Criscione; Sean and Kayley Philbin ; and Aaron and Hannah Godwin. Stan enjoyed two greatgrandchildren as well: twins, Noah and Aubrey Criscione. He was predeceased by his parents, sister Delores, brother Larry and half sister Helen Grace.
His work first included Ducommun Metals and Supplies in Los Angeles and later Fleetwood Enterprises as a National Sales Manager. With the latter job he moved from La Crescenta, California to Waco, Texas, back to Riverside, California, then on to Winchester, Virginia, and lastly to Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he resided for 30 years. Four years ago he moved at the request of Candace to Atlanta, Georgia where her family could help in his later years and he and Karen could help with their younger children.
His wife survives, celebrating 56 years of marriage last spring. Among Stan’s many endeavors he was a Master Gardener; a Sunday School Teacher; President of the Sister Cities in Fort Wayne, Indiana, traveling to all three cities of Plock, Poland; Gera, Germany; and Takaoka, Japan; President of the Lions’ Club; and President of his Home Owner’s Association. With Karen he traveled extensively all over Europe, China, Japan, French Polynesia, Australia, New Zealand, Central and South America, and the Caribbean.
He and Karen hosted 14 exchange students over the years, mainly from Spain and some from Germany, former Yugoslavia, Brazil, Germany and Japan. Stan lived a very rich life and will be deeply missed. Those who desire may contribute flowers (Stan was a Master Gardener) or make a donation to the First Baptist Church of Tucker.
Arrangements by Bill Head Funeral Homes & Crematory, Lilburn/Tucker Chapel, (770) 564-2726.
If you found any mistakes, or you would like to add/remove to this obituary, please contact us by email: info@obituary.memorial. We never ask money for this.
