DeWayne Lee Barker, 65, was joyously received into the presence of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, at 2:48 p.m. Feb. 2, 2015, at Gulf Coast Medical Center, Fort Myers, Fla. He was born March 24, 1949, in Warsaw, to Richard Lee and Evelyn Jane Creighton Barker. He was married to his wife of 15 years, Melody Barker, who survives. He grew up in Kokomo, graduating from Kokomo High School. In 1976 he moved to Warsaw to raise his two children and turn his love for cars into his very first business, Barker Auto Sales. He was an avid sprint car driver and became a local favorite at Warsaw Motor Speedway on Saturday nights, racing nationally with the World of Outlaws. In 1988, he focused his attention on a new era of business and developed Barker Keep-Safe Storage, growing the business to its current six locations. And in 2003 he and his wife, Melody, built a new facility in Boggs Industrial Park to house the storage office as well as a venture in vital record storage, Barkers Archives. He passionately loved the water and spent as much time as possible on his boat, Melody, in St. Joseph, Mich., where he and his wife made many new and lifelong friends boating on the St. Joseph River and Lake Michigan. He navigated several trips on the boat from St. Joseph down the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico, and recently took up a winter residence in Fort Meyers Beach, Fla. He also loved spending time with friends and family, as well as his dogs, Gracie and Ellie. He generously shared his home and his boat with his employees, Cindy Buckholz, Kyle Momeyer, Bill Cooksey and Michelle Culbertson and other friends, who thought of him as family and will deeply miss his presence in their lives. In recent years, his faith in God and his love of sharing Jesus Christ became his greatest passion. His grandfather, Russell Creighton, was the first charter member of the Warsaw/Winona Lake Camp of Gideons International, and he followed in his footsteps, also becoming a member. He held numerous positions within the Gideon organization, and both he and Melody became active ambassadors for them. He grew to become a gifted speaker, giving many inspirational talks about his trip to Rwanda, the importance of the Gideons’ work across the globe and how the Word of God could be utilized in the business world. He continued his outreach to the business world he was so much a part of in Warsaw by helping to found a monthly luncheon for business owners and employees with the goal of connecting them to other Christians and encouraging them in their walk with Christ. He and Melody were active in a local congregation, Touch of Life Church, and in a local ministry to those in jail. He was fond of reaching out to even complete strangers, leading them to accept the Lord in parking lots, diners or anywhere he could. Also surviving to continue his legacy is their daughter, Christina Powers, Warsaw; his two children, a daughter and son of Deana Barker, Janelle (and spouse Brett) Burkhart, Charlottesville, and Dereck (and spouse Cynthia) Barker, Noblesville; three brothers: Karl (and Cindy) Barker, Warsaw; Lee (and spouse Pamala) Barker, Elkhart; Terry (and spouse Carolyn) Barker, Fishers; two sisters, Diana (and spouse Mark) Osborn, Elkhart, and Debra (and spouse James) Caton, Elkhart; and his stepfather, William Tinkey, Warsaw. He was blessed with six grandchildren: Bryce, Ryley and Reece Burkhart and Hannah, Ethan and Chase Barker. He was preceded in death by his father and his mother, Evelyn Tinkey, and one brother, Neil Barker. A celebration of life service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 28, at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw, with Pastor Rick Cooper officiating. Calling is from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27, at the funeral home. ***** Memorials to The Gideons International, c/o Memorial Bible Chairman, P.O. Box 766, Winona Lake, IN 46590-0766 and would be appreciated by his family. Condolences may be sent via www.redpathfruthfuneralhome.com
