Carl Merrell Barker

Abingdon, VA –

Carl Merrell Barker peacefully passed away Wednesday, November 16, 2022, at his home in Abingdon, VA surrounded by his family. Carl was an avid outdoorsman who loved to hunt, fish, and look for Ginseng. He spent a great deal of his life hiking all over the mountains of Southwest Virginia enjoying these things.

He was born October 27, 1948 in the Mendota area to the late Roy M. Barker, Sr. and Ruby Wynegar Barker. Carl spent the majority of his youth swimming in the river, fishing, shooting BB guns, hiking, playing with his siblings and cousins and helping his granddaddy on their family farm.

Carl graduated from John S. Battle High School in 1967 and attended Washington County Technical School. Following that, he was drafted to the United States Army in 1968 where he spent the next two years as a Company Clerk at Fort Bragg Army base in North Carolina. After he came home, he went on to work at Columbus McKinnon then to work at Bristol Compressors for the next 37 years and has been retired for the past ten years. He also attended Washington Chapel United Methodist Church for many years.

Carl is preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Maynard Barker, and Danny Barker, one sister, Wanda Reynolds, one step-grandson, Austin Daugherty, and one nephew, Roy Reynolds.

Carl is survived by his beloved wife of 50 years, Shirley Thomas Barker, two caring daughters, Tina Camper (Jerry) of Meadowview, VA, and Debbie Daugherty (Patrick) of Bristol, VA. He is also survived by the loves of his life, his grandchildren; Michael Gonderman (Trisha Mullins), Amber Gonderman (Hunter Hayden) and Cole Camper; great-grandchildren; Kazleigh Gonderman and Harland Hayden; step-grandchildren; McKinley Johnson and Brayden Daugherty; and step-great-grandson, Keaton Daugherty. Two sisters, Mary Lee (Daryl) of Bristol, VA, and Bonnie Booher (Jerry) of Abingdon, VA and many nieces, nephews and cousins; two brothers-in-law, Wayne Thomas of Little Mountain, SC and Bob Reynolds of Bristol, VA; and one aunt, Mabel Barker Jarvis of Bristol, TN.

Visitation with the family will be held 10-11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 19, 2022 at Farris Cremation and Funeral Center on the grounds of Forest Hills. The funeral service will begin at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Larry Lusk officiating. Burial will follow at Forest Hills Memory Gardens. Pallbearers will be Jerry Camper, Patrick Daugherty, Michael Gonderman, Cole Camper, Hunter Hayden, and Kevin Turley. Honorary pallbearers are Wayne Thomas, Jerry Booher, Daryl Lee, Braydon Daugherty, Jerry Booher Jr., Bobby Reynolds, Darrell Barker, Marty Barker, Tim Matthews, Mike Gonderman, Darren Stout, Ottie Thomas, David Thomas, Rick Nunley, Jerry Wynegar, and Horace Griffen.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, the Parkinson’s Foundation, and the Washington Chapel United Methodist Church.

Friends are welcome to call at the residence 878 Hillman Highway, Abingdon, VA 24210.

The family of Carl Merrell Barker is being cared for by Farris Funeral Service & Crematory, Forest Hills location, 19415 Lee Highway, Abingdon, VA 276-623-2700.