Richard Alson Barker

Richard Alson Barker, 86, of Quarryville, PA, and formerly of Westfield, NJ, died March 1, 2012, as a member of the Quarryville Presbyterian Retirement Community where he lived since 2009. Graveside services will begin at 11:00 AM Saturday March 17, 2012, in Fairview Cemetery, Westfield. Family and friends will assemble at 10:15 AM Saturday March 17th, at Gray Funeral Home 318 E. Broad Street, Westfield. The Service of Remembrance will follow at 12 Noon, Saturday March 17th, in the Grace Presbyterian Church, 1100 Boulevard, Westfield. Born in Aurora, IL, he moved to Westfield at a very young age, and graduated from Westfield High School. An electrical engineer, Dick worked for Stavid Engineering, in Watchung, following his military service. The company became a part of Lockheed International, where Dick remained into the 1970s. He then joined the Concurrent Computer Corporation of Neptune, NJ, and remained there until his retirement. Dick attended Dartmouth College, and MIT, while also serving the US Navy during World War II. He graduated from MIT with a BS degree in Electrical Engineering. Dick later earned masters degrees in Electrical Engineering, and Mathematical Statistics. He went to work for Western Union, and was involved in the installation of support communications systems for the US military. Dick later served in the US Army from 1954 to 1955. Mr. Barker was active with Grace Presbyterian Church, Westfield, where he served on the session, and the board of trustees. An Eagle Scout , Dick served as a Scout master in Westfield during the 1950s and 60s. He loved to sing, and was a member of three community choirs. He sang Handel's Messiah in Carnegie Hall, New York, as a member of the Masterworks Chorus, and St. Cecelia's Chorus. Dick was also an avid hiker. He climbed peaks all over the country. He was the son of the late Virgil D. and Florence Duran Barker. His first wife Mary Ann died in 1983. Dick is survived by his wife Dorothy Partington Barker, a sister, Nancy Shaw, three sons: James Barker and wife Cheryl, Stephen Barker and wife Marian, David Barker and wife Karen; six grandchildren, two step sons: Jonathan Anderson and wife Leslie, Peter Anderson and wife Monica, and four step grandchildren. Memorial gifts in memory of Richard A. Barker may be made to: The Home Missions Committee of The Orthodox Presbyterian Church, 607 N. Easton Rd., Bldg. E, Willow Grove, PA 19090, or to The Masterworks Chorus , P.O. Box 2167, Morristown, NJ 07962.