James Lyman Barber

1921 - 2017

James Lyman Barber obituary, 1921-2017, Del City, OK

BORN

1921

DIED

2017

FUNERAL HOME

Bill Eisenhour Funeral Home

5005 SE 29th Street

Del City, Oklahoma

James Barber Obituary

Published by Legacy Remembers on Oct. 3, 2017.

James Lyman Barber, 96, passed away on October 1, 2017 in Oklahoma City, OK. He was born on June 19, 1921 in Thomas, OK to Clark E. and Clara (Birden) Barber. Lyman was described by his family as a hardworking man.

He held many jobs to support his family, he drove a taxi for a period of time and he worked as a postal clerk for the United States Postal Service until his retirement in 1962. After retirement, he invested in buying, remodeling, and selling residential homes. Lyman enjoyed watching football while listening to another game on the radio simultaneously. His favorite basketball team was the Oklahoma Thunder.

In his pastime he enjoyed fishing, skiing, and spending time with his family. He was a faithful member of First Baptist Church of Del City from 1972 until his death. He loved his church family, and his pastor, Bro. Buddy Townsend.

Lyman was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife of 52 years, Johnie Mae Barber; son, John K. Sasser; daughter, Ferndella Sasser; sisters, Corrine, Jewel, Virginia; brother, Elvin. Survivors include his wife, Janis Barber; daughter, Penny Davis and husband David, and 42 beautiful grandchildren, and a host of relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Friday, October 6, 2017 at Bill Eisenhour Funeral Home from 10:00am to 8:00pm. Family will receive friends and guests from 5:00pm to 7:00pm. Funeral services 10:00 am, October 7, 2017 at First Baptist Church of Del City, OK, 2600 Sunnylane Road, Del City, OK 73115. Interment to follow at Sunny Lane Cemetery. Condolences may be offered at www.eisenhourfuneral.com







Arrangements under the direction of Bill Eisenhour Funeral Home, Del City, Oklahoma.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

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2 Entries

October 4, 2017

Kathy Willoughby-Green

My heart goes out to the family and friends of Mr. Barber. He was a wonderful man. My grandparents thought the world of him. I remember as a small child my grandfather Lee and him remodeling a house and I found this plate that was the ugliest brown and orange flower and had to have it and Mr. Barber made sure that after work that evening my grandpa brought it home to me. I still have that plate 30 some years later. Rest in peace and God Bless.

October 4, 2017

Kelly Cawood

My wife and I moved into a small fixer-upper house two doors down from Mr. Barber during the winter of '87-88. I was 26 at the time and he was 66......and since he was so much older, I always called him "Mr. Barber".

My second day of living there found me digging in the front yard to find a water line leak and he pulled up in his little white Datsun pickup and shouted through the window in a gravelly voice, "Hey, what are you doing?" I told him I was looking for a water leak and he immediately said, "you're doing it wrong." I thought to myself, "who is this old man?" He must've seen the look I gave him because he then introduced himself. As it turned out, I really was doing it wrong and he gave me good advice on how to do it right.

Over the next few months, we became friends and while I respected his house fixing experience and good advice, I think he saw some of himself in me. In return for his know-how, I helped him on a few of his rental properties and provided some extra muscle when he needed it.

One day, he asked me to accompany him to one of his rental houses and told me he was having trouble collecting overdue rent and wanted me to stand next to him as an "intimidator". I put on a mean face and puffed my chest up and the guy paid on the spot!

Another time, I arrived home and my wife was pretty unhappy with Mr. Barber. She'd wanted to cut up a dead tree in the backyard and had asked to borrow his chainsaw and he said, "I'd never let a woman use my chainsaw." I listened to her story and said, "Mr. Barber is a very wise man." And then she was mad at me!

We were his neighbors for nine years and then moved away - and didn't see much of each other for many years. In the past few years, we've reconnected much more often and have gotten to know him and Janis better.

I knew him for the last 30 years of his life and always respected his work ethic and simple ways. He was very much a man of his time and although he had flaws as we all do, I believe he always did the best he could and I respected him greatly for that.

He was always interested to hear what kind of projects I had going on around the house and he so much wished he still had the physical ability to get involved or help out.

Rosa and I will miss him and consider ourselves extremely fortunate to have known him and been his friend.

Unfortunately, we'll be out-of-town during the funeral and very much regret missing his fairwell.

We'd like to extend our deepest condolences to Janis and to all the family.

Rest in peace, Mr. Barber.

Kelly and Rosa Cawood

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Memorial Events
for James Barber

Oct

6

Visitation

10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Bill Eisenhour Funeral Home

OK

Oct

7

Funeral service

10:00 a.m.

First Baptist Church of Del City

2600 Sunnylane Road, Del City, OK

Funeral services provided by:

Bill Eisenhour Funeral Home

5005 SE 29th Street, Del City, OK 73115

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