Lawrence W. "Larry" Barker

Lawrence "Larry" Barker, 67, of West Lafayette, IN, peacefully passed away on Saturday, June 7, 2025, at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis, IN. Larry was born in Lansing, MI to the late Jerry and Shirley Barker. He graduated from Grand Ledge High School in 1976. He furthered his education by going on to Lansing Community College and in 1979 earned his Associate Degree In Science Automotive Techology. Later he decided to further his education and in 1998 earned his Bachelor of Applied Arts in Industrial Administration with a Minor in Industrial Technology from Central Michigan University. He then earned his MBA in 2001 from Indiana Wesleyan University. Larry was part-owner of a gas station with Dee Hamilton from 1976 to 1978 in Holt, MI. In 1978 he began working on the automotive assembly line for General Motors in Lansing MI. He held many different positions over the eleven years he worked there. In 1989 he began working for TRW in Rochester Hills, MI. He held multiple positions over the twenty-six years he worked for the company with the last being Material Manager at their Atkins, VA plant. During his years with TRW he worked in six different plants, encompassing five states. In 2015 he began working for ARaymond in Logansport, IN and continued to work there as Plant Manager until his death. Larry had a wide range of interests throughout his life, including his love of dogs and hairless cats, motorcycle trail riding with friends, water skiing at his family's cottage, woodworking, camping, and trips in his four-wheel drive truck to the sand dunes in MI. He helped to start Boy Scout Troop 340 in Goodrich, MI and was their Scout Master until a job relocation opportunity arose. He was devoted to his family, friends, co-workers and employers. Larry is survived by his wife of forty-six years, Julie, their sons Derek (Tabbetha) Barker, Mark (Lacy) Barker, and four grandchildren Aly, Ella, Hailey, and CJ. Also surviving are his brothers Richard (Sue) Barker, James (Tammie) Barker, sister-in-law Elizabeth Martinez, brother-in-law Randall (Shari) Ward, stepmother Reba Myers-Barker, step siblings Kenneth (Susan) Myers, Timothy (Mary Lu) Myers, Bruce Myers, Nancy (Dana Hess) Myers, Keith (Jacob Campbell) Myers, Ruth Ann (Steven) Hall. Numerous nieces and nephews, as well as great nieces and nephews. Larry was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Donald, and his in-laws Keith and Marilyn Ward. Larry and his family would like to thank Dr. Ashwin Vasudevamurthy MD and all the Staff (Betty, Erin) and nurses (Chrissy, Cassey, Megan, Paula, Michelle, Ellen and Chris) at Witham Hematology Oncology Center in Lebanon, IN for their loving friendship and care during his illness. We would also like to thank Dr. Alex W. Cantafio, MD, FACS, Dr. Murad A. Aburajab, MD, Dr. Sebastian Strobel, MD, and the numerous doctors, nurses and staff at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis, IN that played an instrumental part in Larry's care during his illness. Visitation will be from 1:00-3:00 p.m. with a celebration of life service starting at 3:00p.m., July 19, 2025, at Soller-Baker West Lafayette Chapel, 1184 Sagamore Parkway West in West Lafayette, IN. Larry's celebration of life will also be live streamed on his obituary page at www.soller-baker.com, for those unable to attend in person. Memorial contributions may be made in Larry's memory to the following: Natalie's Second Chance No Kill Dog Shelter, 10 S. 16th St, Lafayette, IN 47905, Phone: 765-426-1285 https://www.nataliessecondchance.org/ Almost Home Humane Society, 1705 S. 2nd St, Lafayette, IN 47905, Phone: 765-474-5222 https://almosthomehumane.org/