Alfred B. "Al" Barker

Alfred B Barker passed away peacefully at his home, surrounded by his loving family, on Sunday, December 7, 2025. He was 88 years old.

Al was born and raised in Stoneham, the son of Alfred and Mildred Barker. After graduating from Stoneham High School, Al and a friend traveled across the country and lived in California for many months before returning to the East Coast and joining the Marines in 1956. Throughout his life he remained extremely proud to be a United States Marine.

At Al's job as a surveyor, he surveyed land for a new development in Burlington. He then purchased one of the lots where he oversaw the construction of his own home that he moved his young family into while it was still half-finished in 1959. Over time, he completed the second floor and eventually built an addition. Later his son remodeled the home to make it the place his father loved. He took immense pride in maintaining both the inside and outside of his property. He spent hours in his backyard where he found solace caring for his hydrangeas, lilies, ferns, roses, geraniums, cardinals, and bunnies. His home became the gathering place for his children and their friends, and later for his grandchildren-with a beautiful pool in the summer and a backyard skating rink, complete with lights, in the winter.

Al spent more than 30 years working for Polaroid where he made lifelong friends. He started on the loading docks, working a forklift, and with incredible work ethic and determination, continually advanced within the company. At the time of his retirement, he was a Senior Production Planner. By attending night school for many years, he earned his bachelor's degree in business at Northeastern University.

Al embraced life and loved the outdoors. When his children were young, Sundays often meant day trips to beaches across Massachusetts and countless destinations around New England. Family vacations were spent camping in the woods of New Hampshire and Cape Cod. He introduced his family to skiing, mountain climbing, hiking, biking, and running. In later years, he and his wife Ginny traveled extensively with friends, sometimes with as many as twenty people in the group. They explored the United States, took numerous cruises through Europe, the Caribbean, and along the Mississippi River, and traveled throughout Europe and Italy. And he always loved Cape Cod where he owned a home and then a condo. Later he spent many happy years with his loving companion Donna.

Al was deeply devoted to his family. He met Ginny on a blind date, and together they started with very little, building a wonderful home and a meaningful life through hard work and sacrifice. As a father, he believed in instilling strong values and a solid work ethic. Some may have called him strict, but his goal was to prepare his children to become independent, responsible, hardworking, and capable of building loving families of their own. Sadly, the family had to endure the profound loss of their oldest son Michael at the age of 33.

With his five grandchildren, he was fun, playful, and easygoing, with hardly any rules-because, as he often said, it wasn't his job to raise them, but to enjoy them. He created a family with an extremely strong bond, and in his final months, his family rallied lovingly to his side as his health challenges grew.

Al will be remembered for his outgoing personality, kind heart, humor, and, most importantly, for the devotion and love he shared with all who knew him. A hardworking man and a true provider, he leaves behind a legacy of strength, perseverance, and family.

Al was the beloved husband of Mary V. "Ginny" (Lennon) Barker for 49 years until she passed in 2008. He was the caring, supportive father and father-in-law of Kathleen Watters-Walsh & her husband Steven Walsh of Centerville, James Barker & his wife Doreen Barker of South Yarmouth formerly of Tewksbury, and the late Michael Barker. He was the brother of the late Jean Walther. Alfred was the extremely proud grandfather of Tanya Yorks, Michael Barker, Megan Barker, Jack Watters, and Sean Barker. Al also leaves behind his longtime companion Donna Sullivan of Ipswich.

Visiting hours will be held at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn Street, Burlington Thursday, December 11 from 4-7 p.m. Funeral services will be held at the First Congregational Church in Stoneham, 1 Church St., Stoneham on Friday, December 12 at 10 a.m. Services will conclude with a burial at Chestnut Hill Cemetery, Burlington.

Memorials in Alfred's name may be made to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, www.stjude.org, 501 St. Jude’s Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or the Wounded Warrior Project, www.woundedwarriorproject.org, P.O. Box 75816, Topeka, KS 66675-8516.

For online guest book and video tribute see www.sullivanfuneralhome.net