Herbert “Bert” Barker, Jr.

Herbert Edgar Barker, Jr. died peacefully at the age of 87 on January 17, 2023. “Bert” was born in Oakland, California on October 14, 1935, the son of Herbert Edgar Barker, Sr. and Mildred Frances Schieck, and brother to Mary Ann Barker (White).

Bert called Oakland, Piedmont and Oakdale, California, home as a child and each place influenced him. His appreciation for music (symphony and opera) and his love for books (especially Adventures at Sea by Howard Pease) were kindled by living near San Francisco. When his family moved to the San Joaquin Valley his interest broadened as he learned to play the piano, master ballroom dancing (to include the Charleston) and raise Brahma Chickens as a 4-H project. The name “Bert” might be considered synonymous with “Cars” or “Lionel Trails”. As a youngster he was able, at a glance, to name make, model and year of every passing car and a platform, in the rumpus-room of his family home, featured an intricate layout of tracks and trains.

Being the student body president and playing piano in the dance band at Oakdale Joint Union High School are examples of his active high school years but the culmination of his teens happened the day after graduation in June of 1953. On that day the M.S. Ventura sailed out of San Francisco Bay bound for Tokyo. Bert Barker, age 17, was on board as a deckhand! The adventure at sea, that he had dreamed of and read about, became a reality!

Bert graduated from the University of California at Berkley in 1957. Cal highlights: Theta Delta Chi Fraternity, President of his Senior Class, and Julie! “I am going to marry that girl,” he said when he first met Julie Ferry Patton from Pasadena, California. On August 28, 2022, they celebrated their 63^rd wedding anniversary.

In 1960, after a stint in the United States Army, Bert attended the University of California Hastings College of Law in San Francisco. At Hastings he was a member of the Order of the Coif and the Thurston Society. He graduated 4^th in his class in 1963. Bert practiced law in both Walnut Creek and Modesto for 25 years until he became Executive Director of the California Alumni Association in Berkley. In 1994 his career path led him to Palo Alto, California as CEO of University ProNet. Bert made his final career move in 1997 and for the next 10 years he and his eldest son Craig worked together at A.G. Edwards & Sons.

Throughout the years Bert and Julie were world travelers along with being a beneficent team. Their hearts and philanthropic efforts were focused on UC Berkley, the Salvation Army, Kiwanis Club, Rotary Club, Grass Valley Center of the Arts, InConcert Sierra, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Modesto and Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Grass Valley.

Bert Barker loved his friends, animals, cars, trains, travel, philanthropy, the United States of America, and most especially God and his family. Bert is survived by his wife Julie (Rocklin, CA), son Craig and his wife Sharon (Rocklin, CA), granddaughter Haley and Fiancé Connor Hagan (San Francisco, CA), daughter Kate (San Lorenzo, CA), son mike, his wife Nicole and granddaughters Sophia and Mazzy (San Francisco) and faithful canine companion Daisy.

On Sunday, February 26, 2023, at 1:00 PM, a Memorial Service and Celebration of Life will be held at Emmanuel Episcopal Church (235 South Church St., Grass Valley, CA 95945).  In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to: Emmanuel Episcopal Church or your favorite charity in Bert’s name.