N. Earl Barber
February 5, 1926 — March 31, 2011
N. Earl Barber, 85, of Cedar Rapids, died Thursday, March 31, 2011, at West Ridge Care Center. Services: 11:00 a.m. Monday, April 4, 2011, at Marion Christian Church by Rev. Peter Mitchell. Visitation will be from 5-7:30 p.m. Sunday at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Cedar Rapids. Burial: Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery, Cedar Rapids.
Survivors include his wife, Virginia; three children, Linda (Leland) Osmundson of Alburnett, Eileen Barber-Goodwin of Cedar Rapids, and Bruce Barber (special friend Chris Steuck) of Champaign, Illinois; four grandchildren, Charlyn (Blair) Lightfoot of Marion, Tony (Erika) Osmundson of Ames, Todd (Allison) Barber of Fishers, Indiana, and Gina Barber of Indianapolis, Indiana; and two great-grandchildren, Maxwell Lightfoot of Marion and Cade Osmundson of Ames.
Also surviving are sister and brother-in-law, Jeanne & Jim Carter of Cedar Rapids; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Eleanor Roby and Nelda Cypra; a brother, Marlin Barber; brother-in-law, Earl Cypra; son-in-law, David R. Goodwin; and a great-grandson, Noah Lightfoot.
Earl was born February 5, 1926, the son of George and Olive (Epley) Barber in Urbana. He graduated from Urbana High School. Earl served with the U.S. Army during World War II. On November 23, 1950, he married Virginia Emmons at Marion Christian Church. Earl was employed at Link Belt/FMC for 40 years.
Earl was a member Mt. Herman Lodge No. 263 A.F. & A.M., the Cedar Rapids Scottish Rite and El Kahir Shrine. He was past master of Mt. Herman Lodge and served as secretary of the lodge for many years. He also served as El Kahir Shrine Recorder. In 1987 he received the honorary 33 degree of Masonary.
Earl was also a member of the Cedar Rapids Toastmasters Club and the Elks Club. Earl was inducted in 1997 to Cedar Rapids Jefferson High School Booster Club Hall of Fame. He was a former Cedar Rapids Legion Baseball managerial staff member and former State of Iowa American Legion Baseball Committeeman.
Earl was a huge baseball fan and especially an avid Cub Fan and Iowa Hawkeye Sports Fan. He enjoyed wintering at his home in Apache Junction, Arizona. Earl loved cribbage and puzzles and mostly adored spending time with his family and friends.
Memorials may be directed to Jefferson High School Booster Club, 1243 20th St. SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404, American Cancer Society, 4081 1st Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402, Mt. Herman Masonic Lodge #263 Scholarship Fund, 210 6th St. NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402, Marion Christian Church, 1050 McGowan Blvd, Marion, IA 52302 or sent to: 3754 North Marion Rd., Alburnett, IA 52202.
Survivors include his wife, Virginia; three children, Linda (Leland) Osmundson of Alburnett, Eileen Barber-Goodwin of Cedar Rapids, and Bruce Barber (special friend Chris Steuck) of Champaign, Illinois; four grandchildren, Charlyn (Blair) Lightfoot of Marion, Tony (Erika) Osmundson of Ames, Todd (Allison) Barber of Fishers, Indiana, and Gina Barber of Indianapolis, Indiana; and two great-grandchildren, Maxwell Lightfoot of Marion and Cade Osmundson of Ames.
Also surviving are sister and brother-in-law, Jeanne & Jim Carter of Cedar Rapids; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Eleanor Roby and Nelda Cypra; a brother, Marlin Barber; brother-in-law, Earl Cypra; son-in-law, David R. Goodwin; and a great-grandson, Noah Lightfoot.
Earl was born February 5, 1926, the son of George and Olive (Epley) Barber in Urbana. He graduated from Urbana High School. Earl served with the U.S. Army during World War II. On November 23, 1950, he married Virginia Emmons at Marion Christian Church. Earl was employed at Link Belt/FMC for 40 years.
Earl was a member Mt. Herman Lodge No. 263 A.F. & A.M., the Cedar Rapids Scottish Rite and El Kahir Shrine. He was past master of Mt. Herman Lodge and served as secretary of the lodge for many years. He also served as El Kahir Shrine Recorder. In 1987 he received the honorary 33 degree of Masonary.
Earl was also a member of the Cedar Rapids Toastmasters Club and the Elks Club. Earl was inducted in 1997 to Cedar Rapids Jefferson High School Booster Club Hall of Fame. He was a former Cedar Rapids Legion Baseball managerial staff member and former State of Iowa American Legion Baseball Committeeman.
Earl was a huge baseball fan and especially an avid Cub Fan and Iowa Hawkeye Sports Fan. He enjoyed wintering at his home in Apache Junction, Arizona. Earl loved cribbage and puzzles and mostly adored spending time with his family and friends.
Memorials may be directed to Jefferson High School Booster Club, 1243 20th St. SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404, American Cancer Society, 4081 1st Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402, Mt. Herman Masonic Lodge #263 Scholarship Fund, 210 6th St. NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402, Marion Christian Church, 1050 McGowan Blvd, Marion, IA 52302 or sent to: 3754 North Marion Rd., Alburnett, IA 52202.
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