Richard Wilson Barker

Richard Wilson Barker, 92, happily married for more than 63 years to Barbara Adkins Barker, passed away Wednesday, March 3, 2021 at Baptist Health Lexington. He was born in Detroit, Michigan on November 1, 1928 to the late Wilson C. Barker and Pauline Taylor Barker. He was a graduate of Western High School in Detroit and Kentucky Mountain Bible College (Vancleve) He attended Taylor University (IN) and then completed his undergraduate studies at Marion College (IN). He received an M.Div. degree from Asbury Theological Seminary (KY) and had two years of further graduate study at Garrett Theological Seminary (IL). Richard and Barbara were directors of the WGM Student Center in Wilmore for 11 years. They served for more than 20 years as a missionaries in Japan with World Gospel Mission and The Wesleyan Mission. He pastored three churches in the West Michigan Conference of the United Methodist Church. He was a member of the Wilmore Free Methodist Church, was past president of Wilmore Camp Meeting, and an active member of the Wilmore Book Club. Lovingly survived by his wife, Barbara, his children, Lester Barker (Annette), Martin Barker (Juliana), Norman Barker (Sherri), Keith Barker (Bethany) and Cheryl Nesselroade (Paul), and a sister, Julia Cheek, 12 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Virginia Taylor and Joyce Kleehammer.

Funeral services will be held at the Wilmore Free Methodist Church (1200 Lexington Rd, Wilmore, KY 40390)

Friday, March 12, 2021.
Visitation at the church prior to the memorial service from 1:00pm to 3:00pm.
Memorial Service at 3:00pm.

The service will be live-streamed on YouTube (https://youtu.be/QjkekxgD8CQ). If you choose to attend we kindly request that you wear masks and practice social distancing.

Betts & West Funeral Home is honored to serve the Barker family. Private interment will follow in the Wilmore Cemetery.
Online guestbook at http://www.BettsandWestfuneralhome.com.