Obituary of Raymond H Barker

Raymond Henry Barker, Sr., 93 of Woodland Park, passed away on October 24, 2016 with his family by his side. He was born in Newark NJ, May 3, 1923 to the late Alfred and Mary (Coogan) Barker. Ray served in the United States Navy during World War II and Korea. Capitalizing on the GI Bill, Ray graduated from Seton Hall University with BS in Business Administration in 1954. Ray and his young family moved to West Paterson 1953. As a new resident of West Paterson, finding a lack of organized activities for his children,Ray became a founding member and is a Past President and Past Trustee of the West Paterson Boy’s and Girl’s Club. He headed the effort to raise funds to pay the mortgage on the Club’s building on Memorial Dive with weekly bingo games. He was a dedicated coach for his sons’ baseball teams and daughter’s softball teams. Later he was the coach of Ma Barker’s Gang, a West Paterson ladies softball team. He was a proud member of American Legion Post 238 and VFW Post 5084. Professionally, Ray retired from Singer – Kearfott where he managed the business operations of various Defense Department contracts. Ray was the beloved husband of 71 years to the late Edna (Alling) Barker (July 2016). He was the cherished father of Vicky De Block and her husband Jim, grandchildren Heather Melrose and her husband James, Dr. Holly Barker, Robert De Block and his wife Reneé, Victoria Bonaccorso and her husband Francis and Rollo Barker. He was the adored great grandfather to Kyla Zahn, Joseph and Benjamin Melrose, Joseph Bonaccorso and Julia De Block. He was predeceased by his two treasured sons, Col. Raymond H Barker, Jr and Thomas Barker. Visitation will be Thursday from 2-4 & 7-9pm at Santangelo Funeral Home, 635 McBride Ave., Woodland Park,NJ. A funeral Mass will be offered Friday at 10:15am at St. Bonaventure Church, 174 Ramsey St., Paterson, NJ. Cremation will be private by the request of the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to: St. Bonaventure Church or the Alfred Baumann Library 7 Brophy Lane Woodland Park, NJ 07424