Vernon Franklin Barker

Vernon F. Barker, Sr., in his 90th year, of Greenview Drive, Lancaster, PA, passed away peacefully at his residence on Thursday, August 20, 2015. Born in Pontiac, Michigan, he was the son of Clarence and Ingaber Mattson Barker. He spent his boyhood in St. Ignace and Pontiac, MI. He was the husband of Gloria Brown Barker and they celebrated their 19th wedding anniversary on December 7th. He graduated from Pontiac Central High School and attended Michigan State University - Oakland. He was a member of Grandview United Methodist Church and was a lifetime member of the VFW Post 1463, Lititz, PA. He was also a member of the USLST Association, USS Mobile Reunion Association, as well as the LST Landing Craft Association of England. While in Michigan, he was a charter member of the Waterford Township Lions Club and also belonged to the Troy Rotary Club. Vernon joined the Navy in January of 1943. He completed basic training at Great Lakes Naval Training Station, Chicago. He then put into commission the U.S.S. Mobile CL 63, a light cruiser. The Mobile then went directly to the Pacific Theater. He earned 14 battle stars while aboard the Mobile; twelve were issued for Asiatic Pacific campaigns and two were issued for Philippine campaigns. He participated in the following; Bougainville Solomon Islands, Tarawa Gilbert Islands, Kwajalein and Eniewetok Marshall Islands, Palau, and Ulithi, Palau Islands Guam, Saipan Tinian in the Mariannas Islands, the famous "Marians Turkey Shoot" during the Philippines Invasion, the battle of Cape Engano during the Philippine invasion, Invasion of Iwo Jima, Bonin Islands, Invasion of Okinawa in the Ryukyu Islands. He was also involved in many of the New Guinea campaigns. After being discharged from the Navy in February 1946, he started with the Lewis Furniture and Carpet business in Birmingham, Michigan. In 1952, he was appointed to be the administrative assistant to the president of the company. He organized the commercial furniture division and was promoted to Sr. Vice President at that time. He was the operating officer until 1977 at which time he left to start Contract Purchasing Services in Troy, Michigan. CPS was formed to be a firm to specialize in designing, interiors, to deliver and install all carpeting, furniture and accessories for high rise buildings. This was a first in the industry that operated on the premise that it would purchase all furnishings for the client at the wholesale or lowest negotiated price. The client would pay the invoices and even take the cash discounts, thereby saving the difference in costs between the retail and wholesale prices. CPSI completed the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, VA, Philip Morris World Headquarters Building in New York City, Standard Federal Savings and Loan Building in Troy, Michigan designed by Minoru Yamasaki Associates. After 45 years in business, he retired in 1991. He enjoyed golf, fishing, hunting, traveling, historical biographies, and time spent with his family and relatives on Loon Lake in Drayton Plains and at the Canada Creek Ranch in Atlanta, MI. He marveled at the view from his home overlooking the Grand Traverse Bay in Traverse City, MI. After his retirement, he enjoyed attending reunions of his Navy war comrades across the country. In addition to his wife, he is survived by son, Vernon F. Barker, Jr., husband of Linda, Traverse City, MI, granddaughter Stephanie Jo, wife of John-Micheal Wheat, Winnetka, IL, and one grandson, Jeffrey Vernon, husband of Kalin Barker, Traverse City, MI; Step son Robert W. Brown, husband of Barbara, Lititz, PA, and step daughter, Cynthia, wife of Robert D. Borzok, Wellsboro, PA. He is also survived by great grandchildren, Charles Micheal Wheat, Benjamin Thomas Wheat, William Henry Wheat, step grandchildren Andy B. Borzok, husband of Maegen Borzok, and Alex W., husband of Stephenie Borzok, and his step great grandson, Declan P. Borzok. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Florence Ferguson Barker and his youngest son, Terry Joseph Barker, a sister, Ilene Barker Rosser, and two brothers, Leeland V.H. Barker and Clarence Barker, Jr. Relatives and friends are invited to attend Vernon's Funeral Service at the Chapel of Ottawa Park Cemetery on Saturday, August 29, 2015 at 12:00 p.m. Interment will take place at Ottawa Park Cemetery, Clarkston, Michigan. Final arrangements entrusted to Pontiac Chapel Sparks-Griffin Funeral Home. To share an online condolence, please visit www.sparksgriffin.com