Johnnie E. Barker, 87, of Greenville passed away on August 11, 2009 at Greenville Health and Rehabilitation Center. Services will be held at 10:00 AM Friday at Coker-Mathews Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Bill Eason officiating. Interment will follow at Memoryland Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Thursday at the funeral home.
Mr. Barker was born on June 27, 1922 in Meadowview Community in Hunt County to Johnnie Robert and Ethel Mae Stapp Barker. On April 13, 1952, he married Azalea Ruth DeFries in Garland. During World War II, he served in the United States Army Air Corp. as a Corporal. He was stationed in England and was in Europe at the close of the war. In 1947, he began working for Sears and retired from there in 1980. After retirement, he began his employment of ranching and farming and did so until 2007 when he became ill.
Mr. Barker was a lifetime member of the White Rock United Methodist Church, and for over 20 years he served as the president of the White Rock Community Center.
His survivors include his wife of Greenville; daughter Ginger Barker of Garland; and numerous nieces, nephew, great-nieces and great-nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, three sisters Juanita Green, Wilma Jo Wallace, and Julia Rhea Roberts and one brother Rufus “Buck” Barker.
The family requests memorials be made to White Rock United Methodist Church Memorial Fund, Alzheimers Association, Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, or charity of choice.
Bob Casey, Robert White, Ralph Green, Jon Robert Green, James Roberts, and James
DeFries will serve as pallbearers. Honorary Pallbearers will be Roy Hogge, Dale Woodall, James Hayworth, and Gary Vanerwegen.
