Allan Howard Barker

February 18, 1927 - January 1, 2015

Allan Howard Barker passed away at his home in Salt Lake City, Utah, Thursday, January 1, 2015 at age 87. Born February 18, 1927, in Salt Lake City, Allan was the second son of Amos Howard Barker and Mercy Rachel Barlow Barker. At 17, he volunteered for the Coast Guard and served as pharmacist’s mate during World War II. He married Joanne Gardner on September 9, 1949 in the Salt Lake Temple and graduated from the University of Utah College of Medicine in 1952. To further his medical training, Allan completed residencies with Harvard and Tufts Universities at Boston City Hospital and Boston Veterans Administration Hospital. He served as chief resident in medicine at the Salt Lake General Hospital. Allan directed the student health center at Brigham Young University from 1956-1959. Then, for over 33 years he practiced internal medicine, specializing in cardiology, at the Salt Lake Clinic. He searched for more and better answers to medical challenges by founding and directing the Salt Lake Clinic Research Foundation, where he conducted and published numerous clinical studies. Among other professional activities, he served as clinical associate professor of medicine at the University of Utah from 1965-1995 and as president of the Utah Heart Association in 1965. Allan’s medical expertise and career merged happily with other life interests—music, flying, and church service. Allan and Joanne first met in the University Ward choir in college, continuing a rich musical heritage from both of their families. Music continued to enrich their family’s life, singing around the piano at family gatherings, making up songs for special occasions, Christmas caroling and singing in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir for ten years. During that time Allan served the choir as chief physician, keeping particularly busy during the choir’s overseas tours. He and Joanne both earned their pilot’s license and enjoyed flying small planes for several years. Allan provided Federal Aviation Administration physical exams for pilots for many years. With Joanne by his side, Allan found joy serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in many capacities, including bishop of the Salt Lake Monument Park 13th Ward, counselor in the Salt Lake Temple presidency, president of the Boston Massachusetts Temple, full-time missionary as Medical Care Specialist in the Philippines/Micronesia Area, as well as his Tabernacle Choir service. During his time in the Philippines, he set up in-house x-ray capabilities and a health protocol and for all missionaries entering the Manila MTC enabling them to enter the field healthy. He also established relationships with local physicians for ongoing missionary medical needs throughout the Philippines. Allan appreciated playing a good game—from tennis to cribbage—and rooting for his favorite teams (usually the Utes). Boating, hiking, fishing and skiing were some favorite ways he forged bonds and memories with his family and friends. He and Joanne could really cut the rug on the dance floor, too. Allan’s family was of utmost importance to him. Growing up with the example of his quiet, but ever busy, ever creative father, Allan, his brother and cousins shared fun, work and music as they learned to care for each other in the extended family. Their lively bond has stayed strong throughout the decades. His children have seen his love in action as he shared his testimony of the gospel in word and deed, gave unfailing devotion to Joanne, and readily dropped other responsibilities to help solve a problem, write a poem or skit, complete a school project, move across the country, advise on medical needs or counsel about weighty life decisions. He taught his family to work and to make it fun; to love learning and to help others through the fruits of that learning; to cherish family past, present and future; to laugh; to strive for a testimony, then live it and share it. Each of his children has wonderful memories of his remarkable attention to detail, his sense of humor, his creativity, his joie de vivre, and especially his love for them. He was a remarkable husband, father and friend, who lived well, learned eagerly, taught lovingly and was always ready with a pun. He will be greatly missed. Preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Robert B. Barker, and grandson, Matthew M. Himes. Survived by his sweetheart and wife of 65 years; their children: Bryce (Margy) Barker, Dan (Nan) Barker, Betsy Barker, Tina (Doug) Himes, Bonnie (David) Howard and Howard (Heidi) Barker; 30 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren. Services will be held at the Monument Park Stake Center, 1320 South Wasatch Dr., Salt Lake City, Utah, 84108. Visitation: Friday, Jan. 9, 6-8 p.m. and Saturday, Jan. 10, 9:30-10:30 a.m. Funeral: Sat. Jan. 10, 11:00 a.m. Interment will be in Larkin Sunset Lawn Cemetery with military honors. (2350 East 1300 South, Salt Lake City, UT, 84108) In lieu of flowers, friends may donate to the LDS Church Missionary Fund, LDS Perpetual Education Fund, the Utah Heart Association or The Village Drill.