Kenneth H. Barber

Ken passed into the arms of his Savior and “slipped the surly bonds of earth” on April 4, 2013 after a valiant battle with congestive heart failure. Born in Nashville, Tennessee in 1925 to Harold and Dorothy Barber and grew up in Atlanta, Georgia where he graduated from North Fulton High School, attended Davidson College in North Carolina, and then graduated in 1948 from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

He attended flight training at Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX and later graduated in the flying class of 49 C at Nellis AFB in Nevada, receiving his Silver Wings. During his time in San Antonio he met the love of his life, Carolyn Row, and married her after graduating from flight training in 1949. Their first station was Clark AFB in the Philippines, from where he went to fly 100 combat missions over Korea as a fighter pilot in the F-51 Mustang, and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross among other medals. He also served with the infantry as a Forward Air Controller on the ground calling in air strikes. They spent twenty two years in the Air Force, stationed at numerous bases. Their favorites were Albrook AFB in Panama, where he was Assistant to the Commandant of the School for Latin America, and the US Air Force Academy, where he served as an instructor in Military Studies with the original cadre.

In the late 1950's, Ken and partners began developing land near Monument, an interest that never stopped. Ken was personally involved developing more than 25,000 acres of land in the mountains, Black Forest and Monument areas and Wyoming. He formed The Rawhide Company, REALTORS® in 1973, which is still in business today. He served as a Director of the REALTOR® Association and Colorado Springs Symphony, and was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Winter Night Club, Daedalians, Phi Delta Theta Fraternity, Colorado Mountain Club, Garden of the Gods Club, Fine Arts Center and numerous other organizations.

An avid outdoorsman and fitness enthusiast, Ken climbed all of the 14,000' peaks in Colorado, many of them as a trip leader for the Colorado Mountain Club, as well as Mount Rainier in Washington (twice), and enjoyed horses, hunting and fishing. He was very active in the Boy Scouts since boyhood. Among his numerous scouting adventures were trips to Philmont and leading a troop of Explorer Scouts through the jungle across the Isthmus of Panama from Atlantic to Pacific. In 2012 he was awarded the Silver Beaver for his lifetime contributions to Scouting.

Ken loved music, played guitar and piano, and often quoted poetry from his prodigious memory. He worked out faithfully, and read constantly. He was a good, interesting, challenging, and generous man. He loved and helped people, and was loved by them in return. He had integrity. You could do business with him on a handshake, and many did.

He is survived by his wife of 63 ½ years, Carolyn, daughter Nancy R. Barber, sons Kenneth C. Barber and Douglas H. Barber, four grandchildren – Kristina, Chris, Lezer and Joshua Barber, a sister, Rosemary Braun of Atlanta, cousins Cornelia Maytag and Nancy McLaughry and numerous nieces and nephews. If it is true that a person who serves well and makes a difference in the lives of others never truly dies, then Ken is immortal. We will miss you. Happy Trails, Ken!

A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Friday April 12, 2013 at 1:30 pm at First Presbyterian Church in Colorado Springs, CO. A private inurnment will take place at the US Air Force Academy on April 19, 2013.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to OCF (Officers Christian Fellowship) 3784 South Inca St. Englewood, CO (online at www.ocfusa.org/donate/#.UWK6T6LQrhg) , or Pikes Peak Council –Boy Scouts of America 985 West Fillmore St. Colorado Springs, CO 80907 (online at http://www.pikespeakbsa.org/Donate)