Donald Barker

1931 - 2017

Donald G. Barker

June 9, 1931 - November 27, 2017

Donald George Barker of Kensington died on November 27 from complications after surgery for a broken hip, suffered during a fall. He died peacefully surrounded by his family at the age of 86.
Don was born in Carnegie, PA, on June 9, 1931, the youngest of eight children born to Percy Barker and the former Hazel Terle, all of whom preceded him in death. He graduated from Carnegie High School and the University of Pittsburgh with an electrical engineering degree. He also served in the US Air Force for four years between high school and college, stationed mainly in Germany, where he learned the language and made many life-long friends
Lured by the burgeoning electronics industry in California, he moved to San Francisco in 1959 where he found work right away and met his future wife, the former Karen Warner, a Berkeley native, on the ski slopes of Squaw Valley. They married in 1962 and went on to ski, travel and enjoy life together for the next 55 years, along with their three daughters, Kirsten Barker (Peter Feinberg) of San Francisco, Amy W.B. Adams of Franklin MA, and Diana Barker of Kensington, and their two beloved grandchildren, Emily and Derek Seawell of Franklin, MA.
Don worked as a sales engineer for most of his career. He sold large computer systems for some of the emerging companies in Silicon Valley and was a part of the growth of the industry from its earliest days. In recent years Alzheimer's disease had limited his mobility as well as his interests, but he was still able to enjoy being with his family and his home of 52 years. He was a loving husband, a wonderful father, and a playful and devoted grandfather to his grandchildren who loved his mischievous humor. He will be greatly missed by family, friends and neighbors.
A Celebration of Life gathering for Don will be held on Sunday, January 14, at the Northbrae Community Church social hall, 941 The Alameda, Berkeley, at 1:00 P.M. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial gifts to the Alzheimer's Association at www.alz.org.