Obit: Barker, Mildred (1878 - 1964)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Barker, McKenna, Strathman, Bates, Henry, Moore, Pautz, Melvin

----Source: Tribune/Phonograph (Abbotsford, Clark Co., Wis.) 20 Aug 1964

Barker, Mildred (14 APR 1878 - 14 AUG 1964)

Mrs. Mildred Barker, the oldest native born resident of Abbotsford, died Friday evening at the age of 86 years, at the home of her granddaughter, Mrs. Eugene Strathman, at Abbotsford.

The body lay in state at the Polnaszek Funeral Home until Tuesday noon when it was taken to the First Presbyterian Church where services were held at 2 o'clock with t he Rev. Charles E. Glidden officiating. Miss Bonnie Melvin was the organist and accompanist for Miss Joan Pautz who sang "In the Garden."

The pallbearers for the interment, which was made in the Abbotsford Cemetery, were Hans Amacher, Clarence Dolan, Guy Korazko, and Cecil Oehler of Abbotsford, and Bertel Miller and Clarence Miller of Withee.

Mrs. Barker was born Mildred Agnes McKenna at Abbotsford April 14, 1878. She was educated in the Abbotsford schools and was a teacher in the Abbotsford and Dorchester area. Her marriage to George Barker took place at Colby July 20, 1901. Mr. Barker, who was a rural letter carrier, died in 1938. An only daughter, Fern Baker Moore, also preceded her in death.

Mrs. Barker served as secretary of the Abbotsford Cemetery Association until Ill health forced her retirement last year. She was secretary-treasurer of the Red Cross local chapter. She was secretary of the Woman's Benefit Association for sixty years and past state secretary of the Rural Letter Carriers Auxiliary. She was a member of the Abbotsford Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star.

Surviving her are four grandchildren, Mrs. Eugene (Mernajean) Strathman, Abbotsford; Mrs. Loren (Mae) Bates, Formosa; Mrs. John (Bonnie) Henry, St. Louis, Mo., and Barker Moore, Rockford, Ill.; and 19 great-grandchildren.