Johnny Gene Barker

December 1, 1942 September 19, 2023

Johnny Gene Barker was born in Eldorado, Illinois on December 1, 1942 to Claude and Elece Barker being the fourth child of five, and the only son.

Johnny's family moved to Bakersfield, California and he attended Standard Elementary, Standard Jr. High, and graduated from North High School, class of 1961. He soon married Sandra Phillips, also a North High classmate, and were married for 62 years at the time of his passing at home on September 19, 2023 from esophageal cancer.

Johnny was athletic and was known to be a fast sprinter in high school. He soon started a career at the age of 19 with the Atlantic Richfield Company (ARCO) and remained there for 36 years, working and living in Kern County, but also temporarily sent to Santa Barbara County in Cuyama, California for a short period in the 1960's. He eventually settled with his family in Bakersfield, working in the Coles Levee area, overseeing gas pipelines in the Wheeler Ridge, Cuyama, and Ventura areas but primarily working as a lead Supervisor at the Plant 8 gas plant near Tupman, CA.

Johnny was somewhat of a master craftsman working on many household projects such as building a masonry blockwall, concrete slab for RV parking, and welding up pens for his miniature horses, goats, and emu. Everyone enjoyed his company at all family gatherings and you could not always tell who had the loudest laugh, Johnny or his sisters. He enjoyed dancing to music of the 1950's and 1960's, and was fortunate to show off his dance moves at his granddaughter's wedding reception in April, 2022.

Johnny is survived by his wife Sandy, daughter Tammy Ruiz and son John (Heidi), grandchildren Amanda Parra (Alex), Ashley Ruiz, Andrea Ruiz, Reid Barker, Reagan Barker, Aubrey Torres, and Brianna Walston, as well as his sisters Claudine Halbrook, Ginger Moses (Phillip), and sister-in-law JoAnn Phillips, and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, twin sisters Irene and Alene, and in-laws Weldon and Kathryn Phillips.

Johnny will be dearly missed by many friends and family, and especially by his grandchildren who always enjoyed being around their Pop.

A visitation for Johnny will be held Friday, October 6, 2023 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM at Funeraria Del Angel Hillcrest, 9101 Kern Canyon Road, Bakersfield, CA 93306. A funeral service will occur Friday, October 6, 2023 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM, 9101 Kern Canyon Road, Bakersfield, CA 93306. A graveside service will occur Friday, October 6, 2023 from 2:00 PM to 2:45 PM at Hillcrest Memorial Park, 9101 Kern Canyon Road, Bakersfield, CA 93306.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hillcrestmemorial.com for the Barker family.