Henry "Hank" McKinney Barker

BARKER, HENRY "HANK" MCKINNEY (LT. COL., RETIRED, USAF) - age 86, longtime Knoxville resident, died peacefully Friday morning, September 16, 2011 at the University of Tennessee Medical Center, Knoxville, Tennessee. He was born January 7, 1925 in Johnson City, Tennessee to Henry Nevils Barker and Mary Catherine McKinney Barker. He spent most of his childhood in Bristol, Tennessee. At the age of 16, Hank entered Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, he resolved to enter the war effort as a pilot. He joined the US Army Air Corps, receiving his silver pilot's wings at Moody Field, Valdosta, Georgia, September 8, 1944. As a member of the Second Air Division, 453rd Bomb Group, US 8th Air Force, he flew combat missions out of Old Buckenham, England. He was co-pilot for the B-24 "Liberator," Wandering Wanda. He graduated from Washington and Lee University in 1949 (Phi Gamma Delta) and the General Motors Institute in 1951. After working in the insurance industry, he joined the Tennessee Air National Guard full-time as a Detachment Commander for "Operation Creek Party" out of Rhein-Main Air Base in Germany from 1967-1973. For his work, he was presented the Air National Guard's Meritorious Service Award. He retired as a Lt. Colonel and Command Pilot in 1973. He then was employed as Personnel Director for Knox County government. He was pre-deceased by his wife, Marilyn Ackerson Barker who died in September 1986, his sister, Catherine "Kitty" Barker, and his parents. He is survived by children Margaret Ackerson Barker (fiancé, Adam S. Frankel), Henry "Augie" McKinney Barker, Jr. (wife, Susan), and Mary Nevils Richardson. He has three grandchildren, Elizabeth (Choonghwan) Choi, Kane (Jana) Barker, and Patrick (Laren) Barker and three great- grandchildren, Mara Kate Barker, Evelyn Nadine Barker, and baby Brendan Barker. He was especially close to cousins Ellen McKinney McQuillan and Dorothy Morris Mudd. He is "Uncle Hank" to nieces and nephews and many cousins, including Jay, John and Chris Barker, sons of his cousin and best childhood friend, Jim Barker. He is a dear friend to many, including Nancy Jones, the "Hardees Boys," fellow Wandering Wanda crew member, Harold Speer of Knoxville, Episcopal Church of the Ascension members, US Air Force and Quiet Birdmen buddies. He is past President of the Tennessee Chapter of the 8th Air Force Historical Society. The family is especially grateful to the staff of Manor House Assisted Living, where Hank resided for the past four years, and to the staff at Henry Jr.'s Men of Measure clothing store who will miss Hank's calls and visits. The family would like to thank medical and care staff who have tended to him during recent illnesses. The family and friends will meet at 11:00 AM Monday at Glenwood Cemetery in Bristol, Tennessee for graveside services. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum http://www.mightyeighth.org/, Savannah, Georgia, of which Hank was a founding member, or the Episcopal Church of the Ascension, 800 Northshore Drive, Knoxville, Tennessee 37919.www.knoxvilleascension.org which Hank joined in 1961. He was a regular member of the church's "Lunch Bunch." One of his fondest phrases was, "Life is too short." And so his life was, for all of us who loved him. Online condolences may be sent to www.rosemortuary.com. The family will receive friends from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM Sunday at Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel.

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Henry "Hank" McKinney Barker

January 7, 1925 - September 16, 2011