Charles "Chuck" Barber

Charles “Chuck” Barber, resident of Shawnee, Oklahoma, passed away on Saturday, January 20, 2024 at his home surrounded by family. He was 83 years old.   Devoted son of William “Bill” Barber and Mary Gene (Yeargin) Barber; and for over 62 years the dearly loved husband and best friend of Paula Barber (Greene); beloved father of Michael, Gregory, and Rebecca.  

Born February 24, 1940, Chuck was born in Henderson, Texas.  Following graduation from Madill High School, Chuck earned a Mechanical Engineering degree from Oklahoma State University; married Paula on June 17, 1961; and moved to Camden, Arkansas where Chuck worked for International Paper Company.  In 1970, Chuck settled his family in Memphis, Tennessee where he worked for 16 years selling process control equipment before being offered the opportunity to buy his own process control business in Denver, Colorado - where he stayed until his retirement in 1996.

Chuck was equally active outside of work.  He loved to read and pursued a variety of sports. Chuck played football in high school, enjoyed golf, tennis and racquetball, and he even ran a marathon!  Chuck was a private pilot and his own private sailboat captain. When Chuck and Paula retired in 1996, they sold all their belongings, bought a 42-foot catamaran sailboat and sailed around the Caribbean and Central America for two years before settling in Shawnee where Paula was raised. Chuck had a spiritual awakening on the sailboat and upon returning to the mainland, Chuck knew his calling was Catholicism. Chuck served as a sacristan at St. Benedict’s Catholic Church. He was a Mason before converting to Catholicism, then became a member of the Knights of Columbus. Chuck also greatly enjoyed being a member of the Chaine des Rotisseurs sommelier club.

Chuck was preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Mary Gene Barber and son, Gregory Barber.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Paula Barber; eldest son, Michael “Mike” Barber and wife Devra; daughter, Rebecca Stapleton and husband Tad; sister, Beverly Whittle, brother, Thomas “Tommy” Barber, sister, Mary Eugenia “Genie” Taylor and husband Steve; 11 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren.

A rosary service will be held on Friday, January 26, 2024 at 6:00 pm at St. Benedict’s Catholic Church. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, January 27, 2024 at 2:00 pm at St. Benedict’s. Following the ceremony, Chuck will be laid to rest at Calvary Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in his honor to Project Gabriel, 613 W. Benedict, Shawnee, OK 74801, St. Benedict's Catholic Church, 632 N. Kickapoo, Shawnee, OK 74801, or The Monks at St. Gregory, 1900 W. MacArthur St., Shawnee, OK 74804.

Arrangements are under the direction of Walker Funeral & Cremation Service.