Harlen "Sonny" Lee Barker

Harlen "Sonny" Lee Barker, 83, passed away Saturday, May 21, 2022, surrounded by his family at his residence in Crestline.

Sonny was born in Soldier, KY on September 2, 1938, to the late Charles and Anna (Disco) Barker. He married Mary "Margie" (Smith) Barker on December 20, 1958, and she preceded him in death on September 29, 1999.

Sonny worked for General Motors, Ontario Plant, and retired after 42 years of service. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Crestline. He was a member of the Lions Club, District 13-B, where he was past District Governor and Sight & Hearing Chairman. He was also Club Secretary of the Crestline Lions, and a board member of the Ohio Lions Pilot Dogs. Sonny was Past Master and a fifty-year member of the Arcana Lodge #272 - F & A.M.; Past High Priest and fifty-year member of the Crestline Chapter R.A.M.; Past President of High 12; member of BAKU Grotto, and BAKU Grotto Clown. Sonny personally maintained about 40 colonies of bees. He belonged to the following bee keeping positions and associations; Richland County Apiary Inspector, 2005 President of the Ohio State Beekeepers Assoc, 2005 Vice President of the Eastern Apiculture Society, member of the Tri County Beekeepers Assoc., Newsletter Chairman for the Richland County Beekeepers Assoc., and a member of Lorain County Beekeepers Assoc. Sonny also volunteered as a honey judge at several county fairs, and would do presentations at various schools, clubs, and other organizations - distance did not matter. Sonny would voluntarily drive people to their doctor's appointments wherever and whenever they needed to go. He delivered Meals-on-Wheels and would help anyone with any type of job he could. His motto: "The Good Lord is going to have to catch me on the go!"

Aside from all the above activities, Sonny was a member of the "Once A Month Birthday Party Club". When he wasn't hosting the party at his own residence, he helped others by flipping burgers, hot dogs, or chicken on the grill and would ALWAYS bring home-made ice cream to top off our birthday desserts.

Left to cherish his memory includes his two daughters, Marianna (Joe) Holtel, Las Vegas, NV, Michelle "Missy" Barker, Carbon Hill, OH; foster son, Gary Reynolds; foster daughter, Barbara Reynolds Sargent, Mansfield; two grandchildren, James (Elana Harnish) Holtel, and Maribeth (Bryan) Johnson; great-grandchild, Sage Wiedmyer; two sisters, Jeannine (Jim) Mitchell, Ontario, OH, and Betty Ann (Tom) Brown, Ocean Isle, NC; and his longtime companion, Joan Laughbaum.

In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by his brother, Daniel Barker

Friends may call on Wednesday, May 25, 2022, from 3:00 PM-7:00 PM at Schneider-Gompf Funeral Home, 223 West Main St., Crestline. At 3:00 PM a Masonic service will be held. A Lions Service will be held at 7:00 pm. Funeral services will take place on Thursday, May 26, 2022, at 10:00 AM in the First United Methodist Church, 202 North Thoman St., Crestline, with Pastor Rick McCartney officiating. Entombment will follow in Crawford County Memory Garden, Crestline.

Memorial contributions may be made to Pilot Dogs, 625 West Town St., Columbus, OH 43215.

Those wishing to share a memory of Harlen "Sonny" or send condolences to the Barker family may do so by visiting www.masfh.com.

The Schneider-Gompf Funeral Home, 223 W. Main Street, Crestline is honored to serve the family of Harlen "Sonny" Lee Barker.

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