Dr. William Bill Barker This is Me

Education

 Web References

1. 1. Public Relations and Marketing

   www.cwu.edu/~relation/pr-apr30 - [Cached]

   Published on: 4/30/2003   Last Visited: 5/8/2003

   CWU REMEMBERS DR. WILLIAM W. ‘BILL' BARKER
   ...
   ELLENSBURG, Wash. - Dr. William W. "Bill" Barker, Central Washington University biological sciences professor emeritus, passed away Saturday, April 19, in Everett.
   
   A native of Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., Barker, 73, spent 32 years as a CWU faculty member. After completing his bachelor of science degree in biology at Baldwin-Wallace College, Berea, Ohio, he began his education career as a high school biology teacher at Avon Lake High School in Ohio. He added a master's degree in biology from the University of Michigan and his Ph.D. in botany from the University of Washington before coming to CWU in 1966.
   
   During the 1988 academic year, Barker was serving as an exchange professor in China, teaching English at Anhui University in Hefei, when he became an eyewitness to civil disobedience and bloodshed that accompanied pro-democracy demonstrations in that country. That was his third trip to China, following visits in 1982 and '83 as a foreign fisheries observer for the National Marine Fisheries Service.
   
   Prior to his retirement in 1999, Barker also taught a variety of classes ranging from botany to genetics, served as chair of the biological sciences department and was involved with both the environmental studies and allied health sciences programs at CWU.
   
   A 1947 graduate of Lakewood (Ohio) High School, Barker was community oriented as a member and officer of the Kittitas Audubon Society and Washington Native Plant Society. He also participated in a hops breeding research program for John I. Haas, Inc. in Yakima.
   
   Barker was also an avid racquetball player, known to use his skill and experience to beat many younger members of the university faculty.
   
   He is survived by his wife, Aileen, three adult children and three grandchildren.
   
   Services for Barker will be held Friday, May 2 at 3 p.m. at the Ellensburg Grace Episcopal Church. The family requests memorials be made to the Washington Native Plant Society or the Parkinson's Foundation, P.O. Box 56, Mercer Island, Wash., 98040.