Born: Chicago, Illinois
Passed Away: Phoenix, Arizona

Dr. Donald Barber, 84, was gently carried into the arms of his Savior, Jesus Christ, on Saturday, June 13, 2020, in Phoenix, AZ. After a very active and family-filled life, he had been slowed of late by a diagnosis of mild dementia, and, ultimately, acute myeloid leukemia. He celebrated his 84th birthday on Monday, June 8, receiving many family and friends in person and on the phone. Later that evening he was hospitalized, and quietly passed away 5 days later in a hospice care center with family by his side.

Dr. Barber came to a saving faith in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior during his high school years in Chicago. He credited the work of Youth for Christ, which was active on his high school campus. For 70 years, he patiently and faithfully walked with his Savior. He was instrumental in helping to lead many members of his immediate family to Christ, and carried on that quiet evangelism throughout his lifetime. He quoted the great missionary martyr, Nate Saint, in the flyleaf of his well-worn Bible: "I wish to live my life in such a manner that when I face death, I'll have nothing left to do but die." Don lived his life in that God-honoring manner, and we know he was overjoyed to finally see his Savior face-to-face.

Dr. Barber had a wonderful 40-year career in education. He spent 20 years in various positions at Flossmoor Junior High School in Flossmoor, Illinois, ending his time there as the Assistant Superintendent of the school district. He followed that with a 20-year career as the Headmaster of Keswick Christian School in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Dr. Barber was a graduate of Wheaton College, earned his Master's degree at the University of Illinois, and fulfilled his educational doctoral work at Kennedy-Western University. A math and science teacher by training, he loved helping middle and high school students learn and love Algebra, Geometry, and all aspects of math. The family takes comfort in knowing that generations of people around the country have been impacted by the love he poured into them.

Don loved his family deeply, and he loved the Chicago Cubs almost as much. Some of his favorite memories involved games with his family at Wrigley Field and spring training games in Mesa, AZ. 1969...1984...1989...2003...so many times they came so close! He lived 80 years until his beloved Cubbies finally won it all in 2016. He only wished his father had lived long enough to see the Cubs win the World Series during his lifetime.

Don is survived by his wife of 20 years, Doris Barber, and their beloved Greyhound, Boss, six children from their blended marriage: Carol (Steve) Craig; Jim (Tammy) Barber; Caryn (Jody) Bowser; Brenda (Steve) Bauder; Carolyn (Dave) Meyers; Krista Hirons, eighteen grandchildren: Steven (Autumn) Craig; TJ (Meredith) Craig; Christie (Brian) Baucom; Hamilton Barber; Andrew (Cristina) Barber; Katy Beth Barber; Jay (Morgan) Bowser; Jesse (Carissa) Bowser; Madison Bowser; Ming Bowser; Mitchell Bowser; Jamae Bowser; Aaron (Kerri) Bauder; Ben (Stephanie) Bauder; Kevin (Haily) Meyers; Brian Meyers; Megan Meyers, thirteen great-grandchildren: Hudson Baucom, Elijah Craig, Benjamin Craig, Mikayla Baucom, Ethen Baucom, Gabriel Craig, Will Bowser, Lucy Meyers, June Meyers, Bear Meyers, Lily Bauder, Ava Bauder, and Claire Bauder, his brother Bill (Ellie) Barber, niece Debby Barber, and nephew Brian Barber.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 41 years, Marcia Barber, and his parents Donald and Marcella Barber.

The family is having a quiet, family-only service in Phoenix, AZ, on Wednesday morning, June 17, making arrangements for distanced family to Zoom into the service. They will be arranging for a family gathering on the East Coast later in the summer, as many of his family live in that area.

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made to ZimZam Global, a church-leader equipping ministry based in Phoenix, AZ (zimzamglobal.org), and Hospice of the Valley, Phoenix, AZ, which tenderly cared for him in his final hours on this earth. https://hov.org/