Funeral services for Bobby Glenn Barker (88) will be held Monday, July 20, 2026, at Mulhearn Funeral Home, 2308 Sterlington Road. Visitation is from 12-2 p.m. and the service to follow from 2-3 p.m. with Don Delukie officiating. Pallbearers will be James Lyons, Donnie Eubanks, Gary Culp, Chad Culp and Jeff McInnis.

Bobby Glenn Barker was born on October 31, 1937, at home in West Monroe, Louisiana. Although his birth certificate states November 1, 1937, as his birthday, he never knew this mistake until the retirement office needed his actual birth certificate, when he found out the doctor wrote the wrong date. His mom said, “The doctor wrote the wrong date! I was there. I know!” To this day, he always celebrated as a Halloween baby. Bobby was born into a depression era followed soon by World War 2 and had lots of stories such as riding his bike to see the soldiers coming through town on the army train. Soldiers would give Bobby a nickel and ask him to go to the store and buy them candy. This thrilled him to no end. He gladly rode his bike to the store and bought a ton of candy for 5 cents (hard to imagine these days) and returned to the soldiers who gave him the money. He, his mom and older brother Gene lived upstairs above a grocery store when his dad went into the war. He purchased a toy army jeep in 1941. He saved the jeep, as he did many things in his life collections.

Bobby was a graduate of Ouachita Parish High School class of 57. This became a favorite for him when the Statler Brothers recorded the hit, “Class of 57” and that ‘Bobby worked for the city,” which he did.

“BB” -as he is known by his grandchildren- is survived by two children: Sherrie Barker Fair (husband Nigel) and Jeffrey Alan Barker (wife Karen); two granddaughters, Shelby Elizabeth Fair (fiancée Austin Reichert) and Ashleigh Jordan Barker; his brother, Tommy Lee Barker; nephew, Tommy Jason Barker (Christi); niece, Christine (Jeff) McInnis; cousin, Amie Barker Arabie from Rayne, LA; cousins, David Arabie from Lafayette, Connie Arabie John from Rayne, Joan Arabie from Lake Charles, Raymond (Kimberly) Barker, Bryan Barker, Terri Barker all from Monroe; and special life-time friend, James Lyons.

He is preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Katie Culp Barker; his father, Arthur G. Barker; mother, Alice Freeman Barker; brother, Gene R. Barker; and two sisters-in-law, Angie Pounders Barker and Barbara Taylor Barker; and William “Uncle Bill” Barker.

Bobby was a life-long member of the Church of Christ. He grew up at Jackson Street Church of Christ, then became a founding member of the Forsythe Ave. Church of Christ where he raised his family. His later years were served at Sterlington Church of Christ where he assisted his wife Katie in making blankets for the Veteran’s Home in Monroe.

Bobby retired from the Utilities Commission, City of Monroe Water Distribution Department after 31 ½ years. He later retired from M & N Utilities after 22 years. He was Superintendent of Water Distribution for the City of Monroe for 10 years. He was a member of the American Water Works Association for over 30 years. He was co-founder of the Northeast Region of the Louisiana Conference on Water and Sewer. He was a member of the LA Conference of Water and Sewer Association for 40 years where he held several offices in both organizations and was on the Board of Certification for 16 years. Bobby received numerous awards during his tenure with the City of Monroe and M-N Utilities.

In the 1970’s, Bobby had a key administrative role in organizing and executing the non-profit benevolence organization called The Good Fellows, whose mission was to collect money for those in need and provide Christmas for area families who needed assistance providing clothes, food, and toys during the holidays. This was a huge part of his life and many families throughout the community received Christmas blessings from his devotion to this calling.

In 1996, Bobby was diagnosed with Lymphoma and fought this disease for over 30 years going in and out of remission.

His hobbies included collections of all kinds: Coca-Cola was his primary love – coke bottles, caps, Christmas musical toys, Coke trucks and cars, plush animals, trays and anything Coca-Cola. Other collections included hot wheels, die cast cars, coins and baseball caps. Bobby loved all things patriotic – the American flag, movies, John Wayne’s “America Why I Love Her,” and holiday parades. He loved Lawrence Welk music, classic cars, Christmas, his family, and his mom’s roast and rice and gravy. He is known for his sarcastic humor, dry wit, western shirts and boots, and his affinity for dogs (Skipper, Brownie, Peanut, Pepper, Bandit and Sam).

He will be cherished for his continuous generosity and kind acts of service to our community. His life was like the ripple in the water, continuing to reach out and touch so many people’s lives for the better. He taught us that “an umbrella cannot stop the rain, but it allows us to stand in the rain. Faith in God may not remove our trials, but it gives us strength to overcome them.” (Peanuts Snoopy Family quote)

In lieu of flowers, send any donations to: Sterlington Road Church of Christ, P.O. Box 82, Sterlington, LA 71280 (Earmark for Children’s Home Inc. Paragould Arkansas).