Howard Warren Barker, 93, passed away peacefully in his sleep on November 7, 2010, at his home in Pinewood, outside of Beaumont.
He was born February 5, 1917, in Jennings, Louisiana. He was the son of a sharecropper, Donald Carl Barker and Clara Francis Pulver Barker, and the fourth of five children. A graduate of Jennings High School, he attended Louisiana Tech University on a football scholarship. In 1941 he earned a Bachelor’s in Physical Education and later a Masters in Education from the University of Arkansas.
In February, 1942, he enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps. He served in World War II as a physical training director for pilots in flight training. After the war he transferred to the reserves where he served for eighteen years, eventually retiring as a Major in the United States Air Force.
After the war, he became a high school teacher and football coach. He served as the head football coach at both Ponchatoula High School and Slidell High School in Louisiana. When West Monroe High School opened 1953, he was hired as its first head football coach. Howard was principal of Kiroli Elementary and West Monroe Junior High.
After owning a successful equipment rental company in Monroe, Louisiana, Barker’s Rent-alls, he moved to the Beaumont, Texas area in 1972 and opened ABC Kiddie Shops with his wife, Margaret. A long time entrepreneur, he invested in businesses and real estate, including at one time being the part owner of Pinewood Country Club.
He was a life-long football fan, hunter, traveler, and reader. He is a member North End Baptist Church in Beaumont. During the last fifteen years he has enjoyed a second home in Angel Fire New Mexico, where he would fish, hike, ski and play golf. Howard was an avid golfer and a great athlete. He scored five hole-in-ones, and shot his age every year from age 69 to 89.
A devoted family man, he is survived by his wife, Margaret Reeves Barker; and his three children, Travis Downey Barker and his wife Debbie Bristor Barker of Granbury, Texas, Janna Barker Fracht of Sour Lake, Texas, and Jason Howard Barker and his wife Kay Daniels Barker of Frisco, Texas. He is also survived by his sister, Geraldine Barker Lewis of Natchez, Mississippi. He was “Big Daddy” to eight grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Donald Carl Barker and Clara Frances Pulver Barker; and his brothers, Orval Carl Barker, Roy Donavan Barker, and Robert Vernon Barker.
His funeral service will be 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, November 10, 2010, at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. Burial will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park with Brad Barker, Brian Barker, Brandon Barker, Matthew Fracht, James Fracht and Braxton Barker serving as pallbearers. A gathering of his family and friends will be from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 9, 2010, at Broussard’s.
Donations may be made to Harbor Hospice, 2450 North Major Drive, Beaumont, Texas 77713 or to American Cancer Society, P. O. Box 5144, Beaumont, Texas 77726.
