John Grove Barker

Dr. John Grove Barker died Wednesday, July 1, 2009 in St. Paul's Hospital in Dallas surrounded by his family. A memorial service is planned for 10 a.m. Monday, July 6, 2009 at First Presbyterian Church with Dr. Isaac Butterworth officiating. A reception in the church fellowship hall will follow the service. Arrangements are under the direction of Lunn's Colonial Funeral Home in Wichita Falls, Texas. Dr. Barker was born June 24, 1926 in Ocala, Florida to Rolfe Barker and Betty Cummings Barker. He attended schools in the Washington, D.C. area before serving in the United States Army in the Philippines during World War II. He earned the Bronze Star. After returning from the war, he married Maxine Dayton on June 5, 1948 in Narrows, Virginia. He attended Shenandoah College in Virginia for one year and graduated from Concord College in Athens, West Virginia with a Bachelor's Degree in biology. He earned a Masters Degree in Embryology from the University of Maryland and a PhD in Entomology from Virginia Polytechnic Institute. He taught Anatomy and Physiology at Radford College in Virginia before being named Dean of the Division of Natural Sciences and later Academic Vice President. He then became the Associate Executive Secretary of the Commission on Colleges for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in Atlanta, Georgia. In 1971, he was named President of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. In 1974 he became President of Midwestern State University where he served until 1980. In 1980, he left higher education and began a new career as an investment broker with A.G. Edwards and Sons. He retired from that company after 21 years.
He was a member of First Presbyterian Church for 35 years where he served as an Elder, chairman of the First Presbyterian Foundation, Sunday School teacher for both the Friendship Class and the Men's Bible Class, lay minister, chairman of the Christian Education Committee, and member of the Weekday Ministries Board.
He was very active in the Wichita Falls community. He served for many years on the Red Cross board, including serving as chairman during the 1979 Tornado. He was a member of and had served on the boards of both The Wichita Club and The Wichita Falls Country Club. He never missed breakfast at the Wichita Club every weekday with his close friends. He was currently serving on the Wichita County Tax Appraisal Review Board and the City County Hospital Board.
He first played golf in Huntington, West Virginia at the age of 46 beginning a lifelong passion. He played at least 3 times a week after retirement and shot his age at The Cliffs on his 80th birthday.
He is preceded in death by his parents, five brothers and four sisters. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Maxine; his two daughters, Kris Gossom and her husband, Woody and Adrienne Barker and her husband, Brian Dodson. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Cody Carlton, Zak Carlton, Cara Slaybaugh and Rob Slaybaugh and step grandchildren, Jennifer Martin, Emily Arens, Kimberly Dodson and Mary Francis Dodson. He is also survived by his brothers, Robert and Gene and sisters, Linda, Irene and Norma.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Foundation, 3601 Taft, Wichita Falls, TX 76308. Tributes may be sent to the family at www.lunnscolonial.com.