Larry Odell Barker

Larry Odell Barker, 85, of Martinsville, VA passed away peacefully in his home on Saturday, February 24, 2024. He was surrounded by his wife and children after a yearlong battle with kidney disease.

Larry was born on October 15, 1938, in Henry County, VA to the late Obie Barker and Ethel Smart. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his brother, Jerry Barker.

He attended Drewey Mason High School and then went into the Army National Guard for six years. He met his lifelong wife, Joan Gauldin Barker of Cascade, at the age of seventeen in 1955. They were married on September 5, 1959, and have been together for sixty-four years.

Larry was a supervisor at Sales Knitting Company for thirty-three years. He then drove for various trucking companies until his retirement in 2001.

Survivors are his wife, Joan Marie Gauldin Barker of the home; daughters, Lisa Davis (Sammy) of Richmond, VA, Amy Freitag (Ryan) of Clovis, CA, Rana Iten (JJ) of Clemmons, NC, and Dell Bailey (Richard) of Knoxville, TN; grandchildren, Tripp Batliner of Clovis, CA, John Barker Davis of Richmond, VA, Skylar Bailey of Anchorage, AK, and Ellyn Iten of Clemmons, NC; sisters, Judy Eanes (Wayne) of Hope Mills, NC, and Linda Reed (Noel) of Martinsville, VA, and his brother, Jimmy Barker (Louise) of Martinsville, VA.

Visitation will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Monday, February 26, 2024, at Norris Funeral Services, Martinsville Chapel. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, February 27, 2024, at Norris Funeral Services with Rev. Roy McVey officiating. Entombment will be held privately.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to Mountain Valley Hospice- Martinsville Office, 240 Commonwealth Blvd W Unit 602B, Martinsville, VA 24112 or to Collinsville Covenant Brethren Church, 553 W John Redd Blvd, Collinsville, VA 24078.

Norris Funeral Services, Inc. and Crematory, Martinsville, VA is serving the Barker family.