Class of 1945

1945 Graduation Edition
Perry Daily Journal
Lester Barker

Four years of wrestling gave Lester Barker a letter one year, and three years of football netted him another, but he also has been active in FFA work for the past three years.

He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. G. E. Barker, route 4, Perry, and is 17 years old, having been born October 7, 1927. Perry was his birthplace. He attended school at Cooper in addition to the Perry schools.

Lester wants to work in the oil fields after graduation, but expects to enter the army later.

Lester Eugene Barker

October 8, 1927 – December 27, 2009

Funeral services for Lester Eugene “Skinny” Barker, Overland Park, Kansas, were held on January 2, 2010; Les passed away on December 27, 2009.

Les was born at the family farm 7 miles west of Perry, on Oct. 8, 1927; he was 82 years old when he passed away. He was the youngest child of eight born to George and Fannie (Sanders) Barker. His siblings were Orval (who died as an infant), Hazel Inselman, Russel “Brigham” Barker, Howard”Red” Barker, Helen Smith, Maxine Jerome, and Wesley Barker, who all predeceased him.

Les went to Cooper Grade School and graduated in 1945 from Perry High School, where he lettered in both football and wrestling. After graduation, he went into the U.S. Navy, aboard the USS Battleship Massachusetts, as a gunner on a 16″ gun turret. Later, he worked in the oil field. He then went on to graduate from Oklahoma Baptist University, Shawnee, OK.

In 1950, he was ordained as a Southern Baptist Minister at his first church, Ceres Baptist Church north of Perry 13 miles. Les also pastored churches in Pernell, Loco, Enid and Ada, OK; Ft. Smith, AR; and in 1997, he retired from Trinity Baptist Church, Shawnee, KS.

Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Barbara Hamous Barker, of the home; two sons and families, Mark, Regina, Carrie and Sam, Leawood, KS, and Brad, Toni, Josh and Andrew, Louisburg, KS.

One daughter, Sondra Lane Barker, preceded him in death in 1998.

Several nieces and nephews live in Perry and the surrounding areas. Les always was proud to call Perry his hometown.