Richard Dale Barker was born in Boston, MA to W. Dale Barker and Elizabeth Jane (MacBurney) Barker and grew up in Arlington, MA. He passed away on Cape Cod, a place he had known since birth, on February, 27, 2022.

Dick was an Eagle Scout and graduated with a B.S. in mathematics in 1954 from Dartmouth College. In the years since graduation, his loyalty and service to the College and his class were legend, and he received the College’s Alumni Award in 1996.

After Dartmouth, Dick married Barbara Joan (Cree) Barker and joined the Army at the White Sands Proving Grounds, where he developed nuclear blast monitoring systems. After his service, Dick began his business career at IBM and Itek. He went on to earn an MBA at Suffolk University and took administrative leadership roles at Andover Institute of Business, Grahm Junior College, and Bryant & Stratton Business School. From 1976 until his retirement in 1997, Dick was the Business Administrator of the Wakefield Public Schools.

Dick and Barbara raised three sons in Wakefield, MA where Dick was a contributor to the community. He was a long-time member of the First Parish Congregational Church, where he was a deacon, trustee, and moderator. Dick was also a life member of Golden Rule Lodge, AF & AM.

Dick and Barbara retired to Bass River in West Dennis in 1997 and again contributed to the community. They delivered Meals-on-Wheels and were active at the South Yarmouth Methodist Church where Dick chaired the Church’s Building Committee and was instrumental in the planning and financing of the steeple and building restoration. He was also involved in the formation, design, and planning of West Dennis’ Bass River Park and was the treasurer of the Dennis Senior Center for over a decade. Dick was an avid gardener and his vegetables won blue ribbons at the Barnstable County Fair.

Dick was predeceased by Barbara in August and is survived his sons Bill Barker (Sandy) of The Villages, FL, Tom Barker (Joanne) of West Dennis, John Barker (Julie) of Wellesley, six grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. The family would like to thank Kimelki Gooden and the entire staff at Maplewood at Mayflower Place for their kind care, compassion, and support.

Services will be private for immediate family. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to The South Yarmouth United Methodist Church, 324 Old Main Street, South Yarmouth, MA 02664 syarmouthunitedmethodist@gmail.com.

Great leader and wonderful human being. Former Wakefield Supt of Schools

A true Gentleman and a Great Person. Our neighbor for Generations..He and Barb are together again. We miss you both it's just not the same without you❤️

I barely knew Dick and Barb, but our families were quite close. David Young (my husband) and Roland (Dick's cousin) grew up together every summer. I would learn much about Cape Cod on those evenings when those families got together....Barkers Corner now passes to the next generation...