Obituary of Henry Carlton Barker

Henry Carlton Barker, 93, of Zion, IL passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 6, 2021. Carlton was born in Itawamba County, MS in 1928, where he grew up with one brother and six sisters. He met his beautiful wife Dorothy at the age of 19, and was head over heals in love with her from that moment on. It was that lovely wife who also decided that Carlton was a much more suitable name than Henry. After they met, Carlton left for Hawaii where he was stationed in the Army; he proudly served his country as a Medic. When he returned they were engaged, and three months later they married on August 5, 1950. They first resided in Red Bay, AL; it was there that their first, of three beautiful daughters, Linda Kay, was born. Carlton moved his family to Northern Illinois where he found work to provide for them. While in IL, he and Dorothy welcomed two more beautiful daughters, Teresa Ann and Brenda Sue, completing their family of five. Carlton found work at Johns-Manville in IL where he worked until his retirement in 1992. He was a devoted Christian and Godly man who believed in helping others and serving his church. He was a faithful parishioner of First Baptist Church in Winthrop Harbor and served as a Deacon at Second Baptist Church for many years. Carlton loved his backyard garden and at any given time you could find him tending to it. He had numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews that cherished their time with him as well. He was loved beyond words. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather who will be missed beyond measure. Carlton is survived by his beloved wife of 71 years, Dorothy; children, Linda (Pat) Talley of Vina, AL, Teresa (Nick) Dowdal of Beach Park, IL and Brenda Kingfisher of Kenosha, WI; grandchildren, Michelle Loy, Traci (Daniel) Guzman, Sonya (Brad) Corcoran, Nick (Stacy) Dowdal, Lindsay (Quinn) Haley, Steven (Amanda) Kingfisher, Aaron Kingfisher; fifteen great-grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and great-great nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Henry C and Maud L. Barker; sisters, Pearl Strawbridge, Muriel Strickland, Birdie Carpenter, Noyler Strickland, Ruby Hindman, Tomadean Mills; brothers, Ethridge Barker, Cope Barker; and grandson-in-law, Corey Loy. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 14, 2021 at Congdon Funeral Home, 3012 Sheridan Rd., Zion, IL 60099 from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m., Funeral Service will begin at 12:00 p.m. Interment will follow at Mt. Olivet Memorial Park.