Ralph Barker

Born March 27, 1925, at home in Silas Creek, Ashe County, N.C., he was the son of George Winfield Barker and Marylou Della McClure Barker.

A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 11, in the worship center of Ponca City First Baptist Church with Andy Taylor, pastor, presiding. Arrangements are under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel. Honorary casket bearers will be the Adult I Sunday School class and the Ponca City Noon Lions Club.

Ralph lived in Saltville, Va., from 1926 until 1935. At that time the family moved to Lake Charles, La., with several families who were transferred from Saltville by Mathieson Alkali Works (later Olin Corporation). The men were moved there to train new operators and supervise operation of the new chemical plant. Ralph attended schools in Saltville, Va., and Lake Charles, La. As a youngster, he delivered newspapers on his bicycle, was in Boy Scouts, and was an usher and doorman at the Arcade Theater. He also played the mellophone in Lake Charles High band.

On July 17, 1943, he was inducted into the U.S. Army at the age of 18 and took basic training at Camp Barkley, Texas. During World War II, Ralph was a combat veteran with Cannon Company of the 158th Regimental Combat Team, also known as the “Bushmasters.” Ralph received the Combat Infantryman Badge, World War II Victory Medal; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three bronze stars and an arrowhead, and Philippine Liberation Medal with one bronze star, Good Conduct Medal, and WWII Occupation Medal for Japan. The Team also received a Presidential Citation for their action in the Philippines. He served in New Guinea, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Japan. He participated in five Japanese-held beach invasions and the early occupation of Japan. He was a sergeant when discharged in January of 1946.

With the aid of the GI Bill of Rights for Veterans, after his discharge, he was able to attend McNeese College in Lake Charles, La., and graduate from Louisiana State University with a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering in 1949.

On Dec. 18, 1948, Ralph and R. LaVera “Lee” Barrentine were married in Westlake, La. They moved to Baton Rouge where Ralph completed his last year at LSU.

He first worked for Ogden & Woodruff, a consulting engineering firm, in Baton Rouge. In January 1951, they moved to Westlake, La., where Continental Oil Company employed him in the Westlake Refinery. In March of 1955, Ralph transferred to the Central Engineering Department in Ponca City. He progressed through various engineering positions and was director of Project Development, Scheduling, and Control Division when he retired in May of 1985 with more than 34 years with Conoco.

Since his retirement in 1985, Ralph and Lee enjoyed traveling in the United States and internationally, including several cruises.

Mr. Barker was a member of the American Association of Mechanical Engineers, the American Association of Cost Engineers, and was a registered Professional Engineer in Oklahoma. He was also a member of the Pioneer Genealogy Society, Ponca City Noon Lions Club, and the American Legion. He had been an active member of First Baptist Church since 1955. He taught junior boys Sunday school for several years and served on several church committees and building projects.

Survivors include his wife, LaVera of the home, and two sons, Michael Barker and wife Marsha of Silver Springs, Md., and Robert Barker and wife Tammy of Ponca City. He also has two half-brothers, Lt. Col. Craig Barker of Lake Charles, La., and Master Sgt. George Barker of Hammond, La.; three grandchildren, Jon Barker of Arlington, Va., Emily Barker Glaser and husband Chris of Tulsa and Audrey Barker of Ponca City; and one great-grandchild, Jane Glaser of Tulsa. His parents and two brothers, Earl Barker and Harry Barker, preceded him in death.

A graveside service will be held later in Lake Charles, La., at Prien Memorial Park Cemetery. Contributions may be made in Ralph’s name to Hospice of North Central Oklahoma Inc., 1904 North Union, Suite 103, Ponca City, Okla. 74601.