Obituary

BARKER, Jack Camden, passed away on September 4, 2021. He was 89 years old. Jack was born in Akron, Ohio, on December 11, 1931, where he spent his childhood years. After serving our country as a member of the U.S. Air Force, here and in Korea during the Korean War, he completed his education at the University of Akron. He then went to work as a materials engineer for the B.F. Goodrich Corporation Aerospace Division where he helped to develop the high-altitude spacesuits worn by the astronauts that made the first trip to the moon. Like many, Jack found that exploring “outer” space leads to a life-changing exploration of “inner space,” which led Jack and his wife to ministerial school and ordination. After serving a church in Colorado, Jack and his family moved to Cincinnati, where they served New Thought Unity Center for thirty years before retiring and moving to the Dayton area. During retirement, Jack discovered that planes also came in small, radio-controlled sizes and was an active member of the Miami Valley Radio Control Club. He was also an active volunteer at the National Museum of the US Air Force. Jack is survived by his wife of 69 years, Pat, and his two children, Ken (Jacqueline) Barker and Amy Barker (Dominic Backowski). He had five grandchildren, Jeremy Barker, Jessica (Jonathan) Stanley, Camden (Caitlin) Backowski, Allayna Backowski, and Jamie Franchini (deceased); and five great-grandchildren, Aidan and Peyton Barker and Jackson, Elijah and Evelyn Stanley. He was the son of the late Harold and Alverda Barker, the stepson of Ruth Barker (deceased), brother of Beverly (the late Roy) Midcap, Diane (Carl) Cassel, Ronald (Nancy), and Greg (Renee) Barker, and the late David Barker and Jeanne (Gary) Young. Whenever he was asked the question, “How are you?,” his answer was always, “I’m fine!” and today, he would want all of us to know, “I’m fine, now go and live life fully and remember to pay it forward.” A private service for family will be held and followed by a Celebration of Life on December 11, 2021 from 3-6 PM at the Golf Club at Yankee in Centerville, Ohio. Additional details for the Celebration will be available at a later date. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Dayton VITAS Hospice, The American Cancer Society, or the charity of your choice.