April 30, 2003
Contact: Barbara Tolin (509-963-2731/fax 509-963-2730/e-mail: tolinb@cwu.edu)
ELLENSBURG, Wash. - Dr. William W. “Bill” Barker, Central
Washington University biological sciences professor emeritus, passed
away Saturday, April 19, in Everett.
A native of Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., Barker, 73, spent 32
years as a CWU faculty member. After completing his bachelor of
science degree in biology at Baldwin-Wallace College, Berea, Ohio, he
began his education career as a high school biology teacher at Avon
Lake High School in Ohio. He added a master’s degree in biology from
the University of Michigan and his Ph.D. in botany from the University
of Washington before coming to CWU in 1966.
During the 1988 academic year, Barker was serving as an
exchange professor in China, teaching English at Anhui University in
Hefei, when he became an eyewitness to civil disobedience and bloodshed
that accompanied pro-democracy demonstrations in that country. That
was his third trip to China, following visits in 1982 and ’83 as a
foreign fisheries observer for the National Marine Fisheries Service.
Prior to his retirement in 1999, Barker also taught a variety
of classes ranging from botany to genetics, served as chair of the
biological sciences department and was involved with both the
environmental studies and allied health sciences programs at CWU.
A 1947 graduate of Lakewood (Ohio) High School, Barker was
community oriented as a member and officer of the Kittitas Audubon
Society and Washington Native Plant Society. He also participated in a
hops breeding research program for John I. Haas, Inc. in Yakima.
Barker was also an avid racquetball player, known to use his
skill and experience to beat many younger members of the university
faculty.
He is survived by his wife, Aileen, three adult children and
three grandchildren.
Services for Barker will be held Friday, May 2 at 3 p.m. at
the Ellensburg Grace Episcopal Church. The family requests memorials
be made to the Washington Native Plant Society or the Parkinson’s
Foundation, P.O. Box 56, Mercer Island, Wash., 98040.
