Barker, D. Keith 1919-1989

BARKER, COOPER, PILGRIM

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes
Date: 12/12/2013 at 08:30:38

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register

KEITH BARKER

D. Keith Barker, 70, 2 Circle Terrace, Mason City, died Friday, June 16, in a Mason City hospital.

A memorial service was held Monday afternoon in the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Mason City with the Rev. Jim Brasel, pastor, officiating. Interment was in Hazelwood Cemetery. The family has requested memorials to the First Congregational United Church of Christ or the Cerro Gordo County Cancer Society, both in Mason City.

He was born May 31, 1919, in Grinnell, the son of A.C. and Lena Cooper Barker. He was a 1938 graduate of Grinnell High School and attended the Walton School of Commerce, Chicago, Ill. He served in the Third Armored Division of the United States Army in World War II, participating in the Normandy invasion of Europe and in Central Europe, also as a warrant officer in the finance department and received the bronze medal.

He was married to Frances Pilgrim of Grinnell May 5, 1942, in Grinnell.

He was the manager of utility companies in Wallace, Idaho; Clinton; Oelwein and Mason City where he served as district manager of the Interstate Power Company from 1964 until his retirement in 1984.

He was a member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ of which he was a past trustee and deacon; past president of the Mason City Rotary Club; past president of the Mason City Development Association; past president of the United Way of Cerro Gordo County; a member of the board of directors of Norwest Bank; served on the board of the Board of Achievement; was secretary-treasurer of the Ecological Society of Mason City; was active in Boy Scouts and was a member of the Euchre and Cycle Club.

He is survived by his wife Frances J. Barker, Mason City; two sons Douglas A. Barker, Valparaiso, Ind., and Thomas L. Barker, Iowa City, and three grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, one son and one brother.