Arthur Barker

Arthur "Good boy" Barker, 83, of Dale, passed away at 6:47 a.m. Tuesday, March 16, 2010, at Hamilton Memorial Hospital in McLeansboro.He was born in Dale June 21, 1926, the son of Ira Barker and Nellie (Ritcheson) Barker. He married Mary Lou Benbrook in 1949, and she preceded him in death in 1953. He later married Ruth Counsil May 6, 1962, in Shawneetown.The funeral will be 11 a.m. Thursday at Harre Funeral Home in McLeansboro with the Rev. Robert Sefried officiating. Burial will follow at the Digby Hill Cemetery in Dale. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. tonight at Harre Funeral Home in McLeansboro.Barker is survived by his wife, Ruth of Dale; two sons, Gary Barker and wife Dorothy of Cameron Park, Calif., and Gregg Brenner and wife Julie of Dale; one daughter, Debbie Trout and husband Joe of McLeansboro; four grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and first wife, Mary Lou. Mr. Barker was a retired farmer who loved to piddle, mow and tinker. He was a 50-year member of the Tuscan Lodge 630 A.F. and A.M. of Walpole and served in the U.S. Marines as a corporal during World War II.