W. T. Barker

One of my goals for 2013 is to learn a little bit about Mendota beyond what I presently know. As I learn interesting things, I’ll share them. Here’s a start.

He looks like a gangster in this picture…a hillbilly gangster born and raised in Mendota, Virginia. I’m wondering who that car belonged to? I’m wondering what kind of car it is? My husband thinks it’s a Ford from the 1930’s.

Daddy

His name was William T. Barker. Most people called him “W.T.”…or “Dub”. Mother called him “Bill.” I called him Daddy.

I haven’t seen that face for over 40 years as he died the summer I was 16, and at the time of his death, he was about 64 or 65 years old. As I look at his face, I’m looking to see if I favor him. I do not. I favor Mother.

However, I have his feet (ugly) and his sense of humor. Thanks Daddy! Not for the feet but for the sense of humor!

Loading

19 thoughts on “W. T. Barker

  1. Diane Malcolm

    My mother grew up in Willow Branch, I recall her talking about their neighbors, Ward and Stella Barker. They had a store. Any relation?

    1. Eva Post author

      Diane…I don’t know. I’m going to ask Terri McCroskey or Susan Vickers if they will give me some of the extended family. Dad’s father was Peter Livingston Barker, but I don’t know anything about his siblings. However, I believe all of the Barkers are related in this area.

  2. Terri

    I can still hear his infectious laugh…he & Vivian and Mama & Daddy had so many good times together. Brings tears to my eyes remembering and hearing their laughs in my head. Lots and lots of Barkers around here that are all related….way far back. So glad you are doing some research. I will be so interested to see what you find.

    1. Eva Post author

      Terri….Thanks! Do you have any pictures of the green house? I remember our moms working in shorts and bras inside the greenhouse. The smell of a greenhouse always takes me back there. They had a priceless friendship. I hope the four of them are together in Heaven. They enjoyed such a simple life…kids, playing cards, drinking coffee, Sunday baseball, and dreaming.

  3. Patsy

    BOY TIME REALLYS FLIES DOESN’T IT. I DID NOT THINK OF YOUR DAD BEING DEAD OVER 40 YEARS TILL I GOT TO FIGURING IT OUT. WARNER HAS BEEN DEAD 24 YEARS TODAY–UNREAL!!!!!

  4. Gerald Booher

    He was a very smart man and I always enjoyed talking to him and listening to him and Uncle Roy tell stories about people and happenings.

  5. Eva Post author

    Thank you. I love your story of how impressed you were with our hot water tank which could have blown up at any moment!

    1. Eva Post author

      Thank you Diane…does he have any idea who would have had a car like that around Mendota? Nancy thinks this picture was taken before Mom and DAd got married…around the time of the Great Depression.

        1. Eva Post author

          Really? Why does he think that? Does he remember it at all?

          We did not have a car when I was a little girl — only Daddy’s logging truck. I guess, however, he and Mom had to have something to drive to Cincinnati, which is where they moved right after their marriage. Nancy thinks the picture was taken sometime around that time.

  6. Terri

    Eva, I do have a picture of the greenhousse. I will try to take time to look it up soon and make you a copy. I have a good one in mind.

  7. Terri

    Hey, look very closely at that tag on the car…that may give you a hint. It appears to have a black cow on it. I can’t make out the other things.

    1. Eva Post author

      Terri
      AP Carter had a car and Daddy ran with him as a young man. I’m going to take the picture to Flo and see if she thinks it’s his car. I don’t think there were that many cars around here.

      I wonder also if Uncle Roy might have had a car like this.

        1. Eva Post author

          Terri

          Sammy Cunningham said that it probably was his car. I had not thought of it but when Mom and Dad got married, he had driven in from Cincinnati so he had to have had a car. They went on a date, and she was upset that her boyfriend at joined the military..he was lonely in Cincinnati…from this they decided to get married. What adventurers!! So…at any rate, he had a car, and this very well could have been it!

Comments are closed.