Richard Lawrence Barker

TUSCOLA: Richard Lawrence Barker, 67, passed away on Wednesday, July 1, 2020. A funeral service will be held on Monday, July 6, 2020 at 5:00pm at the Church of the Fullness of God, 5858 Hwy 277 South, Abilene, officiated by Kathryn Stuckey, directed by Fry~Smith Funeral Home, Tuscola. Graveside burial will be held prior to the funeral service at 10:30am in the Buffalo Gap Cemetery. A visitation will be held on Sunday, July 5, from 5 to 7pm at the funeral home.

Richard Lawrence Barker, Born September 11, 1952 in Topeka Kansas. His dad was in the United States Air Force and was transferred to Dyess when Richard was 11. While in Junior High and High School Richard played football. He later joined the United States Army. He had a high aptitude for language and learned German, then was stationed in Germany in listening post near the Czechoslovakia border during the Cold War. He helped transcribe reports and transmissions received and also served as a guard. Upon returning home he became a carpenter building houses and several of which were in the Stone Gate addition. This is where he met his wife Velma. Their first date was to the premier of the original Star Wars. Later on Richard worked on electronics, TV and stereo repair. This led him to open his own shop Horizon Electronics. He also become a certified Paramedic and worked in the Ambulance service which led to working at Curtis ambulance which was run out of William Beaumont Army Medical Center. Richard was an avid Bass fisherman. He won $500 dollars in a Bass Master Pro Am Tournament. He was also involved in several Bass clubs. When the family returned to Abilene Texas he started to work for the City of Abilene Solid Waste Division as a side loader and even earned a degree. He was promoted to supervisor and created and  programmed their billing system and a variety of other computer related tasks. His last position with the City of Abilene was a Code Compliance Officer. He retired June 30, 2020 and was retired one day.

He is survived by his wife and partner for 43 years Velma Barker, son Michael Brock and wife Rachel Brock and grandson Ryan Brock. He was preceded in death by his sister Janet, Mother Mildred and Father Paul Barker. In lieu of flowers please make donations to Meals on Wheels or your favorite charity.