John Barkley
Posted: September 4, 2015
John Allan Barkley, 75, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, September 2, 2015. He passed away at his home in Columbus, MS after an eleven month battle with pancreatic cancer. He was born on March 11, 1940, in Ripley, MS to John Halbert and Willetta (Bill) Barkley. After graduating from Ripley High School, John attended Northeast MS Junior College and graduated from Mississippi State University with a degree in industrial engineering. Johnny was a loving and devoted husband to his wife of 52 years, Anne Duncan Barkley; a best friend and mentor to his son, John Barkley, Jr. and wife, Raven, of Tuscumbia, AL; and a role model to his beloved grandsons, Trip and Chase. John Barkley was dedicated to his family, but most of all he was a faithful servant of God. He was a deacon and Sunday School teacher for many years and was always eager to share his faith. A kind, humble, and honest man, John was admired and greatly respected by his family and many friends. In 1962, he married Anne Duncan, and they made their home in Columbus, MS where he was employed at General Tire and Rubber Company (Omnova) as a process engineer until he retired in 1997. In 2007, the Barkleys, keeping their home in Columbus, also became part-time residents in Williamstown, WV, to be near and participate in the lives of their two grandsons. For the past fourteen years, John and Anne have engaged wholeheartedly in grandparenting—one of the greatest joys of their lives. In West Virginia, they moved their membership to Fellowship Baptist Church in Vienna, WV. They also continued to return to their home in Columbus and worship at Fairview Baptist Church where they were members and faithfully served for most of their married lives. In addition to his immediate family, Johnny also leaves his brother, William F. Barkley of Grand Bay, AL. Preceding him in death were his parents; a sister, Barbara Richardson; and his mother and father-in-law, Rachel and Dewey (Dutch) Duncan. A memorial service honoring the God he served will be Saturday, September 5, 2015, at Lowndes Funeral Home Chapel;, Columbus, MS at 2pm with Bro. Sammy Crawford officiating and Bro. Tommy Gillon assisting. Visitation will be from 12:30pm until 2pm service time. Pallbearers will be Kenneth Burns, Doug Yelverton, Lee Harrelson, Bobby Ward, Rick Mathis, Greg Richardson, and Dr. Norris Howell. Honorary Pallbearers will be Ron Colburn, Reed Cooper, Bill Strickland, Walt Moseley, Jimmy Kibe, Dan Tomlins, Paul Nance, Joe Godfrey, Clayton Bond’s Sunday School Class, Hal Willcutt’s Sunday School Class, Russ Smith, Cliff Lynch, and Matt West. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to be made to Fellowship Baptist Church Family Life Center, P. O. Box 5099, Vienna, W. V. 26105 or Fairview Baptist Church, 127 Airline Rd., Columbus, MS 39702.
