Willie H. “Rusty” Barker passed away at the age of seventy on Wednesday, October 12, 2016 in Franklin, NC. He was born on Monday, March 25, 1946, in Orleans Parish, Louisiana to Willie Hillary and Thelma Reynolds Barker. Rusty was a native of the Ponchatoula/Springfield area in Louisiana. He loved the North Carolina Mountains and the swamps of Louisiana. He enjoyed hiking, woodworking and spending time with his grandchildren.
Rusty was the manager of Ross and Wallace Paper Products Company in Hammond, LA for fifteen years. He owned and operated Otto General Store in North Carolina for six years.
In his younger years he was a farmer in Ponchatoula, LA. He also was a realtor in Louisiana as well as North Carolina. Rusty was a proud United States Army veteran, spending most of his tour of duty in Alaska.
Rusty is survived by his loving wife of forty-five years, Brenda Hutchinson Barker; his daughter, Kristi Barker Cotter of Franklin, NC; his grandchildren, Westley, Noel, and Oliver Cotter, all of Franklin, NC, his sisters, Joyce Barker Warren and her husband Hardy and Peggy Barker Hutchinson and her husband Ronnie and his brother, Marshall Barker, also many nieces, nephews and close friends.
A Visitation for Rusty will be held from 6:00 until 8:00 pm on Monday, October 17, 2016 at Harry McKneely & Son Funeral Home in Ponchatoula. A Funeral Service Celebrating Rusty’s Life will be held at 10:00 am on Tuesday, October 18, 2016 in the funeral home chapel with Bro. Billie Kennedy officiating. Interment will follow in Carter Cemetery in Springfield.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Hospice House Foundation of WNC, Inc., PO Box 815, Franklin, NC 28744 or to Blue Ridge on the Mountain Nursing Home, 417 Cloverdale Road, Sylva, NC 28779.
Harry McKneely & Son Funeral Home is serving the Barker family.
Rusty’s guest book can be viewed at www.harrymckneely.com.
