ARTHUR JAMES BARKER

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ARTHUR JAMES BARKER Peacefully, on Tuesday, September 4, 2012 Arthur James Barker went to his eternal reward. He is survived by his dearly loved wife (of almost 64 years) Hazel, his daughters Myrna Baker of Kelowna and Valeri (Don) Brown of Winnipeg, his son Lorne (Tracy) Barker of Kelowna, and his daughter-in-law Joanna of British Columbia. He was predeceased by his beloved son Irwin Barker in 2010. Arthur was very close to his son-in-law Don Brown who took Arthur to all of his appointments and the family is so grateful to Don for his attentiveness to our dad's needs. Arthur loved all of his grandchildren: Michelle (Calvin) Elliott, Jeremy (Tynesha) Barker, Mathew Brown (Krysta), Vanessa (Aaron) Vander Meulen, Shari Barker (fiancé Tim Burns), Naomi Baker, Kimberly Barker, Mark Brown (Allison Odger), and Malyssa Brown (Jason De Paz). He had 10 great-grandchildren as well: Delaney, Avery, Camryn, Gabriel, Zechariah, Michaiah, Jadon, Hudson, Ben, and Genevieve. Arthur was born September 12, 1918, in Box Alder, Ontario, and grew up on the family farm near Devlin (near Fort Francis). He was the youngest of six and was predeceased by his parents Alfred and Mary Barker, brothers Roy, Charlie, Russell, Percy, and his sister Tillie. He graduated from Central Bible College in Springfield, Missouri in 1938 and was ordained by the P.A.O.C. in 1942. Arthur ministered at various churches until 1954. He worked for Canadian National Railways for 30 years and retired in 1984. Arthur married Hazel Woods on November 20, 1948. Our family lived on Consol Avenue from 1959 to 1991. In 1975 Arthur and Hazel bought a cottage at Manhattan Beach Retreat Centre on Pelican Lake near Ninette, MB and loved spending their summers there over the years. Our parents later moved to an apartment at 1630 Henderson Hwy. where they loved the view from their 11th floor suite, and every evening for 20 years they watched the sunset from their balcony. In December 2011 Hazel (Mom) moved to Kildonan Personal Care Home, and three months later Dad joined her there. He had the room right across the hall and they spent all of their time together. Arthur was well-liked by all the wonderful staff at Kildonan Personal Care Home and he will be missed. Our dad was a faithful member of Calvary Temple and had a very strong faith and personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He served as a Sunday School teacher and an usher for many years. He was involved in the seniors' ministry and also led a Bible Study group. Dad had a dry sense of humour and we will miss his wit and outlook on life. He prayed for each member of the family by name every day and we will miss those prayers. Dad loved to read and was like a walking encyclopedia. You could not stump him with a Geography question. He loved to travel and especially enjoyed his trips to Australia, New Zealand, and Israel. There was always somewhere else where he wished he could travel. He loved the hot sun, sitting under a tree, hearing a train whistle, but most of all (next to the Lord) he loved his family and treasured his wife Hazel with all of his heart. Funeral service will be held at Calvary Temple in the main sanctuary on Saturday, September 8, 2012 at 11:00 a.m., Pastor Bruce Martin officiating. Glen Eden Funeral Home 338-7111 www.gleneden-mb.ca

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 06, 2012