Mr. Walter Dean Barker, age 85, of Durant OK, passed away peacefully, surrounded by those who loved him, on the 25th of January 2013, in McKinney, TX. Walter was born on the 3rd of November 1927, to Ermal Barker and Fern (Groendyke) Barker, of Elmwood OK. Where he helped his father work the farm and he first learned how to drive a big rig. On May 7th 1958 he was married to Molene Clark in Clayton NM. Walter was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1953. He worked as an over the road truck driver for nearly sixty years. Walter hauled steel into the Grand Canyon during the construction of the visiting center. He also watched the Interstate Highway System be built and used it often to haul freight from coast to coast. Walter has been to every state in the U.S. multiple times (except Hawaii), including Canada and he also made a trip to Newfoundland at the age of 80. Walter always wanted to make a trip to Alaska but never made it. He retired from JB Hunt in 1995, but only stayed retired for about a year when he started hauling horse trailers for Sundowner. While a driver for Sundowner Walt was honored with an award for a million miles of safe driving. During the time as a driver at Sundowner Walter owned and operated a 97 dodge 3500 diesel that he drove for over a million miles, and a 2004 dodge 3500 diesel that currently has over 700 thousand miles on it. Finally Walter retired from driving in 2009.
He is survived by his wife Molene Barker of Durant, OK, older brother Richard Barker of Katy, TX, Sister Roberta Methvin of Alvin, TX, children Mike Barker of NJ, Bob Barker of Gilbert, AZ, Stephanie Barker of Royse City, TX, Julie Resinger of Frisco, TX, Daniel Barker of Durant, OK, Jonathan Barker of Frisco, TX, 9 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.
Every man dies, but not every man really lives, and Walter really lived.
"It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done;
it is a far, far better rest that I go to, than I have ever known."
- Charles Dickens