Paul D. Barker, Sr.

Paul was born and raised in Somerville, Massachusetts, the seventh child of David and Ethel Barker. He graduated from Boston College High School in 1947 and from Boston College in 1951. Paul served in the United States Navy during the Korean War from 1951 to 1954, when he was honorably discharged. In 1956, he obtained a law degree from Georgetown University Law School and soon thereafter moved to New York City to begin a career as a tax attorney. He earned a Masters in Taxation from New York University School of Law, and eventually returned to the Washington, D.C. area where he had a long career with the Federal Government, first in the Office of the Chief Counsel for the Internal Revenue Service and later as a trial attorney with the United States Department of Justice Tax Division.

In 1960, he married Dorothy Jones, and the couple had two children, Mary and Paul Jr. Though the marriage ended in divorce, Paul Sr. remained a devoted and loving father to Mary and Paul Jr. throughout his life, enjoying nothing more than introducing them to all of his favorite activities, including fishing, sailing, music, theater, travel, amusement parks, and Red Sox baseball.

Paul Sr. retired from federal service in 1990 and enjoyed a long and happy retirement, sharing his life for many years with his devoted friend and companion, Eunice Hicks, who preceded him in death in 2008.

Paul Sr. is survived by his daughter, Mary Bachinger (Christopher) and son, Paul D. Barker, Jr. (Amy McLaughlin), both of the Washington, D.C. area; his sister, Joan Forget of Dorchester, Massachusetts; his grandchildren Matthew, Kathleen, Luis Fernando, and Grace; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Relatives and friends are invited to call at Joseph Gawler’s Sons, 5130 Wisconsin Avenue NW, (corner of Harrison Street) Washington, DC on Tuesday, April 21, 2015, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, 9705 Summit Avenue, Kensington, MD 20895 on Wednesday, April 22, 2015, at 10:00 am. Interment will follow in Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Silver Spring, MD.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Boston College High School, 150 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston, Massachusetts 02125-3391.