G. Irene Barker

Memorial Services for G. "Irene" Barker will be held on Tuesday, September 7, 2010 at 10:30 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Holdrege, Nebraska with Rev. Dr. W. Kirwin Stewart, Jr. officiating. Private family inurnment will be held prior to services at Prairie Home Cemetery in Holdrege.

Gladys "Irene" Barker, 86 years of age, of Holdrege, Nebraska, passed away on Friday, September 3, 2010 at Holdrege Memorial Homes. She was born on September 9, 1923 in Manchester, England the youngest of seven children born to Harry and Mary (Whittaker) Hewitt. She received her education at Manchester.

On December 31, 1946 she was united in marriage to Milton James Barker at Grand Island, Nebraska by a Lutheran minister at the church parsonage. To this union two children were born: David and Susie.

The couple made their home in Holdrege where Irene worked at Becton-Dickinson plant for 16 years.

Our family admired her for her courage to leave her family in England and come to America as a war bride and start a life in Nebraska. She was proud of her service in Women's Land Army during World War II. She was recently recognized, along with other WLA members, by the Prime Minister of England. She maintained friendships with some of the women with whom she served and had very fond memories of that time in her life.

She enjoyed square dancing and having coffee with her neighbors. She had a quick wit and loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren. In her retirement, she was active in the BD Alumni Association. Irene also loved to knit, read, do crosswords, travel and play bingo.

Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by four brothers, two sisters, and one brother-in-law, Glenn Barker.

Irene leaves to mourn her passing her husband of 63 years, Milt; two children: Susie Powers and David J. Barker, both of Holdrege; two grandchildren: Audrey Malagon and her husband, Mark of Peach Tree City, Georgia, Aaron Powers and his wife, Abbie of Giltner, Nebraska; one great-granddaughter, Scarlett Lynne Malagon of Peach Tree City; a sister-in-law, Mary Ellen Barker of Wood River, Nebraska; as well as a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

A Memorial Book Signing will be held on Monday, September 6, 2010 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege with the family greeting from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

A memorial has been established in her name and kindly suggested to First Presbyterian Church of Holdrege, American Cancer Society or to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.