Dr. Thomas E. Barker

Friday, November 8, 2019
3:00 to 8:00 pm
Meridith Funeral Home, Highland, IL and
Saturday, November 9, 2019
10:00 to 11:00 am,
Highland Community Church, Highland, IL

Saturday, November 9, 2019
11:00 am
Highland Community Church, Highland, IL.

Thomas Edward Barker, DDS, 91, of Highland, IL, died on Monday, November 4, 2019. Born July 11, 1928, in Boaz, KY, Tom was the first of the three children of Rooney and Beulah (Cress) Barker. He attended grade school in Paducah, KY through sixth grade, until his parents moved the family to Centralia, IL in the summer of 1941. He graduated midway through his senior year from Centralia High School in January of 1946, and immediately enlisted in the US Army. During his term of service in Italy in a base medical clinic, Tom began to consider a career in dentistry. He was honorably discharged in January of 1949.

On January 18, 1948, Tom married Anita Lee Goodman of Centralia at Central City Baptist Church in Centralia. Following his military service, he immediately enrolled at Centralia Junior Township College (now Kaskaskia College), graduating in 1950. That fall, he enrolled at Washington University in St. Louis, and entered the university’s School of Dentistry in 1951, graduating in 1955. Dr. Barker owned dental practices in Mascoutah, IL for four years and then in Belleville, IL for four years, before purchasing the dental practice of Dr. L.W. Cohlmeyer in Highland in 1963. When he retired in 2010 from The Smile Shoppe in Highland, he had practiced his profession for 55 years.

Dr. Barker was a member of the Illinois State Dental Society, Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry, a past president of the Madison District Dental Society, part-time clinical instructor at the SIU School of Dentistry in Alton, IL for 15 years, past president of the board of directors of Faith Countryside Homes, and former member of Toastmasters, Rotary Club and Optimists Club. He was a founding member of Highland Community Church and an elder, Sunday School teacher and choir member there for many years. Dr. Barker loved his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and delighted in telling others about Him. He and Anita were avid gardeners.

After living in “The Wickstead” in Highland for 50 years, Dr. Barker lived for more than six years at Legacy Place (now Cedarhurst of Highland), and very briefly at San Gabriel Memory Care of Highland and Faith Countryside Homes Freedom Place. He died at St. Joseph’s Hospital of Highland, under the excellent care of their staff and the staff of Heartland Hospice.

Dr. Barker is survived by his six children: Rooney (Diane) Barker, Brenda (Randy) Done, Dr. Byron (Karen) Barker, Ken (Dana) Barker, Julie (Mike) Hanna, and Curt (Lorinda) Barker; by 18 grandchildren: Janae (Bobby) Gravitz, Dane (Joanna) Barker, Lauren Barker, Cory (Jennifer) Done, Brittney (Ryan) Puls, Taylor (Charles) Sheeley, Tenor Barker, Morgan (Brett) Butler, Brett Barker, Jessica (Andy) Page, Tyler (Samantha) Kathmann, Kane Kathmann, Ashley Hanna, Joshua (Stephanie) Hanna, Tamera Hanna, Tera Barker, Cassidy Barker, and Chad Barker; and 14 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; his sisters, Louise Knolhoff and Runell Steele; his wife of 70 years, Anita, who died on August 12, 2018; stillborn granddaughter Jessica Barker; and stillborn great-grandson Camden Puls.

Visitation will be held on Friday, November 8, 2019, at Meridith Funeral Home in Highland, from 3pm to 8 pm, and on Saturday, November 9, 2019, at Highland Community Church, from 10 am to 11 am, with funeral service following at 11 am at the church. The family suggests that memorials be made to Highland Community Church, Highland Area Christian Service Ministry, or Faith Countryside Homes.