Barker - Della Martin
DELLA MARTIN BARKER
Source: Crawfordsville Journal Review, June 18, 1973
THORNTOWN - Mrs. Della Barker, 94, widow of E. J. Barker, widely known businessman, breeder of purebred hogs, president of the Home National Bank at Thorntown and treasurer of Standard Life Insurance Co. of Indianapolis, died Saturday afternoon at her home west of Thorntown. Mrs. Barker had been in failing health three years and seriously ill six months. She was a graduate of Thorntown High School and had taught school in Boone County for three years until her marriage to Mr. Barker on Dec. 26, 1900. As members of the Presbyterian Church, she and her husband donated the carillon and chimes as well as many other gifts to the church. They were also donors of cafeteria equipment to the Thorntown Schools. Many young persons attended college because of their inspirational and financial encouragement. They were donors of three residences for professors at Hanover College where Mr. Barker was a trustee. She was born Sept. 28, 1878, the daughter of Edward and Mary Woody Beesley. Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Harold S. (Mildred) Spencer of Thorntown; a grandson, John Barker Richardson of Evanston, Ill.; a son-in-law, John L. Richardson of Wilmette, Ill.; Robert Spencer, stepson of Mrs. Spencer, and three stepgrandsons of Mrs. Spencer. A son and two daughters preceded Mrs. Barker in death. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Russell and Hitch Funeral Home. The Rev. Orville Woody and the Rev. Sam Lodfi will officiate. Burial will be in Sugar Plain Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home. - jlr