Evelyn J. (Shuster) Barker

Evelyn J. (Shuster) Barker

Evelyn Janice (Shuster) Barker, age 86, of Alliance, passed away at 11:45 a.m., Saturday, December 14, 2013, at Alliance Community Hospital with her family by her side.
She was born August 17, 1927, in Alliance, to Harry Elwood and Margaret Marie (Cook) Shuster.
Evelyn was a native of Alliance having lived in the area all her life. After graduating from Alliance High School in 1945, Evelyn attended Bowling Green University and graduated from Mount Union College in 1949 with a degree in education. She began her teaching career at New Waterford High School, teaching students in a one-room school house. She attended Westminster College while teaching and obtained certification to be a principal.
In 1952, when Knox School opened in the West Branch School district, she was the first teacher hired by John Pickens, (affectionately known as Poppa Pick.) Evelyn remained at Knox school, mostly in room 112, teaching fourth grade throughout the rest of her forty-year teaching career. She retired from teaching in 1992 and then served four years on the West Branch Board of Education, having been the first woman to be elected to the school board.
In addition to her teaching career, Evelyn enjoyed spending time with her husband, Lloyd Edward Barker, whom she married June 26, 1949 at First Christian Church. The couple have been members of First Christian Church since April 9, 1950. She also served as a Sunday school teacher and on the church board for many years, was a Diaconate, and became a member of the Goodman Crusader's Sunday school class.
During her lifetime, she was active in Beta Sigma Phi for more than fifty years, American Association of University Women; Ohio Education Association; National Education Association; West Branch Education Association; charter member of Phi Delta Kappa; Alliance Area Association of Retired Teachers; Women's Life Insurance Society, having served as president for many years; National Cabinet of University Women at Mount Union College working concession stands there serving fans for many years; the Alliance Community Hospital Auxiliary; Friends of the Library at Rodman Public library, where she helped with the annual book sale during Carnation Week; Friends of Parks; and the Alliance Senior Citizen Center, where she and Lloyd went on bus trips and volunteered during bingo nights for many years. She was an avid supporter of the Carnation City Players, Alliance Community Concert Association, Alliance Pregnancy Center, United Way, Salvation Army, West Branch Sebring Area Community Foundation and the Haines House Projects. She also served as an assistant leader for Girl Scout troops when called upon to do so.
In recognition of her community service, Evelyn was named Citizen of the Year in 2005 by Mayor Toni Middleton.
Evelyn is survived by her husband, Lloyd Barker; only daughter, Janice Lynn Barker-McLaughlin; sisters and brothers-in-law, Virgil and Pearl (Linaberg) Barker; Dr. Wilma Faye (Barker) Hollaway, Eileen (Hobecke) Shuster, Juanita (Richards) Barker, Carl and Deloris (Barker) Weigel Jr, N. Arthur and Eleanor (Barker) Zimmerman; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, great-great-nieces, great-great-nephews; several cousins; former students; and many friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents and only brother, Elwood Harry Shuster.
Services will be held at 3 p.m., Friday, December 20, 2013, at First Christian Church, with Sue DeHoff and Aaron Phillips co-officiating. Friends may call two hours prior to the service at the church. Interment will be at Fairmount Memorial Park at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alliance Community Hospital 200 E. State St., Alliance, OH 44601, Alliance Senior Citizen Center, 602 W. Vine St., Alliance, OH 44601, University of Mount Union, 1972 Clark St., Alliance, OH 44601, or to the First Christian Church 1141 W. Beech St., Alliance, OH 44601.
Arrangements are by Cassaday-Turkle-Christian Funeral Home, 75 S. Union Ave., Alliance, Ohio.