Donald Eugene Barker

An accomplished historian, he was the author of Big Time For a Dime-a History of Local Theaters;” “For the Love of the Game-an Illustrated History of the Newton-Conover Twins Baseball Team.” His greatest work was an illustrated history, “Images of America: Conover,” the twentieth century story of Conover that will be an inspiration for generations—history otherwise lost.

An expert photographer and collector of important images, his works hang at Conover City Hall and Conover Station. Don was awarded prestigious prizes for his photographs of New York City landmarks. He was an accomplished musician with his own band and was an expert dancer, known for ending up with the prettiest girl on the floor, from Fallston to Granite Falls and well beyond.

Like many boys of his age during World War II Don fell in love with airplanes. A veteran of the U.S. Air Force, he served as an OPS personnel assistant to the commander at a west Texas air base. Don took great pleasure in telling what a soft assignment that turned out to be, “I had it made!” Don took no pleasure in telling about his dumbest decision when his mother told him his dad left money for his college education—and he used the money for something else and a lifetime of regret. An aficionado of World War II Army Air Corp history, Don was the Operations Agent for several airlines, among them Piedmont Airlines in Hickory, National Airlines, out of Idlewild Airport in New York and Lake Central Airlines, out of Toledo, Ohio, and served as Line Chief at Cannon Aviation in Hickory.

He was dedicated to serving Concordia Lutheran Church, with particular interest in helping the youth. They reciprocated by remembering him every year on his birthday by decorating his yard with pink flamingos. Don was an enthusiastic sponsor of a young man in “Bugles Across America.”

He believed in hell and his friends reported on no occasion has he hurt anyone. He trusted in heaven and realized Christ as the most important thing of world history.

Born August 27, 1933, in Catawba County, Don was preceded in death by his parents, William James and Lula Brady Barker. He is survived by his cousins, Ann Brady Holt, Doug Brady of Conover, Evelyn Brady Caldwell, Laura Travis Perry, Janice Brady Langston, Donna Brady Smith, Sharon Massi Branch and Derick S. Hartshorn, a close personal friend.

A memorial service will be held at Concordia Lutheran Church, Conover, NC, on Tuesday, February 16, 2016 at 1:00pm. Rev. Mark Schudde and Vicar Jim Kent will officiate. The family will receive friends in the Emmaus room following the service. A private inurnment will be at the Conover City Cemetery at a later date.

Condolences may be sent to the Barker family at www.drumfh-conover.com.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to Concordia Lutheran Church, 216 5th Ave. SE, Conover, NC, 28613.