Phillip J. Barker, 80, of Gloucester, passed away March 23, 2019.
Phil was born on Nov. 15, 1938, in Myrtle Point, Oregon. He was the third of six children born to Joel L. Barker and Viola Hoffman Barker Banhart. Phil attended Grants Pass High School in Oregon where he was a champion heavyweight wrestler and president of the Knucklebusters, an auto mechanic club.
Phil served in the United States Army for 20 years as a helicopter mechanic, received a degree in accounting from Hampton University, retired from the Army as a captain, studied laundry and linen management, and worked as a civilian for the Armed Forces at Lajes Field, Azores, Portugal; Reese Air Force Base, Texas, and Fort Polk, Louisiana.
Soon after Phil graduated from Officer Candidate School, Transportation Corps, at Fort Eustis, he met the love of his life, Margaret Ann Ledford, on a blind date. They married in Hawaii in June 1968, while Phil was on R&R from Vietnam.
They raised four children, David, Terri, Brian, and Lisa, in Newport News, King and Queen Courthouse, Crofton, Maryland, and Terceira Island, Azores. Phil and Margaret then lived in Texas, Louisiana, and Oregon before returning to Virginia in 2015.
Phil enjoyed cats, dogs, bald eagles, cinnamon rolls, building things, bad jokes, and a good buffet. Sweet and funny, he was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 47 years, Margaret Ann Barker of Virginia, and his sister, Linda Mauldin of Oregon. He is survived by son, David Barker of Oregon, and granddaughter, Jenifer Travers of Virginia; daughter, Terri Blankenship and grandson, Noah Blankenship of Virginia; son, Brian Barker of Oregon; daughter, Lisa Barker, son-in-law, Curt Cronister, grandson, Cal Barker, and granddaughter, Maisy Barker of Maryland; brother, Richard Barker and sister-in-law, Ginny Barker of Maryland; brother, Keith Barker and sister-in-law, Ruth Barker of Oregon; sisters, Karen Shipman of California and Dianne Lorber of Oregon; and many great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.
The family would like to thank the staff at Heron Cove at Sanders and Visiting Angels of the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula, VA, for their loving care and support.
A memorial for family and close friends to celebrate Phil’s life will be held at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, Ohio 45250-0301; or the Gloucester-Mathews Humane Society, P.O. Box 385, Gloucester, Va. 23061.
Arrangements under the direction of Hogg Funeral Home and Crematory, Gloucester Point. Family and friends may share condolences and memories at www.hoggfh.com.