Rosebelle Barker

1924 - 2014

Rosebelle G. Barker, 90, of Macomb, IL, formerly a longtime resident of Des Plaines, IL, died on February 23, 2014 at Heartland Health Care Center in Macomb. She was born February 1, 1924 in Hudson, IN, to the late Russell Vern Goodrich and Marguerite Beryl Mills Goodrich. Her given name was Helen Rosebelle. She served as a Naval intelligence radio communications technician in World War II at Chatham, MA, where she met her husband, Robert G. Barker. They married April 6, 1945 in Chicago. He died February 26, 2003. She is survived by sons David (Judith) Barker of Mundelein, IL, formerly of Des Plaines; son Donald Barker of Titusville, FL; and daughter Bonnie Barker of Macomb; daughter-in-law Lynda Barker of Gulf Springs, MS; two grandchildren: Kurt (Kristine) Barker of Wildwood, IL; and Holly (Christopher) Knight of Coco, FL; and five great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her grandson, Brian Barker; her brother, Gene David Goodrich; and a nephew. She worked more than 40 years in administrative office positions. She was co-founder of the Maine Township High School Faculty Wives, and she was an avid bridge player. Her lifelong love of music included more than a decade as choir director at Immanuel Community Baptist Church in Des Plaines. She enjoyed attending sporting and fine arts events at Maine East and Maine South high schools, where her husband served as an administrator/principal. She was the second-longest standing member of the Des Plaines Ladies of the Elks, having served in leadership roles on numerous committees; a Rotary Ann and a Paul Harris Fellow through the Park Ridge Rotary Club; and a charter member of the Women's Memorial through the Women in Military Service for America Foundation, Inc. She was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church in Macomb. Grandchildren Kristine Barker, M.Div., and Kurt Barker, musician, will conduct the 1 p.m. Saturday, March 1 memorial service at First Baptist Church of Park Ridge (1266 N. Northwest Hwy., Park Ridge, IL 60068). Her ashes will be placed in a niche next to her husband at Acacia Park Cemetery, Chicago. Memorials in celebration of her life may be made to the Maine Township High School Educational Foundation (1131 S. Dee Rd., Park Ridge, IL 60068), the McDonough District Hospital (MDH) ICU Comfort Cart or the MDH Hospice (525 E. Grant St., Macomb, IL 61455). An online guest book is available at www.dodsworthfh.com.