ELMER SHERWOOD BARKER

BARKER BARKER, ELMER SHERWOOD Obituary for E. Sherwood Barker Elmer Sherwood Barker. After a 5-year battle with congestive heart failure, Mr. Barker devoted, husband, father and grandfather dies at the age of 81. Sherwood is survived by his wife of 57 years Carol, his son Bradd, daughter-in-law Deborah and granddaughters Kristen and Brooke of Ft. Lauderdale, FL; His daughter Carolyn Barker DeWitt and son-in-law Breck DeWitt of Brentwood, TN. Sherwood was an energetic and vibrant man of many talents and avocations throughout his life. Born in Steubenville, OH he had an early career in entertainment as an MC and singer/performer in USO and nightclub shows with the likes of Xaviar Cugat and Guy Lombardo s band. He then served in the armed forces directly as a Navy man and navigation instructor for 6 years. Barker and wife Carol settled in Fairview, OH and began their family where he had a career in sales and sales management in the women s apparel industry and achieved many top awards for his results. Additionally, Barker served the public as a part-time police officer on the Parkview Police force until the mid 1960s. He attained the 32? Mason designation while living in OH. In 1966 Barker moved his family from Ohio to Ft. Lauderdale, FL where he continued his love of the sea. For many years Barker and his family enjoyed boating, fishing and the beaches of Florida. Barker enjoyed the learning and camaraderie of the Ft. Lauderdale Power Squadron for boating safety and enthusiasts. He was an active participant in his children s school related efforts while both his son and daughter attended Ft. Lauderdale grade, junior and high school. Many area parents and business owners worked with Barker as he led the fundraising and building of a state-of- the-art athletic facility for Northeast High School athletes in the mid-1970s. He applied his entrepreneurial spirit into creating a real estate investment business resulting in a thriving residential and commercial practice and various other investments as a hotel and commercial real estate owner-operator. In retirement Barker and his wife enjoyed many hours of fishing, swimming and boating between their home in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea and Connestee Falls, North Carolina. In 1995 Carol and Sherwood moved to Nashville TN. In his later years Barker was an avid gardener creating beautiful and productive gardens of flowers and vegetables. E.Sherwood Barker will have his ashes scattered at sea off the coast of Ft. Lauderdale, in a private family ceremony at a yet to be determined date. No public services are planned at the request of Mr. Barker.