On Saturday, December 26, 2020, Van Barker, age 75, of Natchitoches, Louisiana, passed away with his family by his side, after a long battle with cancer.

Van was born on January 3, 1945, in Natchitoches. He was the oldest of five children born to Thomas "Tom" and Willa Vee Barker. He was preceded in death by his parents and his grandparents, Willie Hugh and Avey Nugent and William Pinkney and Daisy Barker.

Van attended Northwestern Lab School, Natchitoches High School, and Northwestern State College. It was at Northwestern that he met the love of his life, Linda, and they were married on January 30, 1965. As a music major, he was able to continue his love of the cello that began in the Natchitoches High Orchestra. He later performed with the Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony Orchestra, as well as symphonies in Shreveport, LA, Atlanta, Rome, and Gainesville, GA.

While in college, Van worked in retail sales at the local Western Auto store. After a family move in 1974, Van became a buyer and later manager for the Gibson Company in Gainesville and Carrollton, GA. In 1980, he returned to his beloved Cane River and began a career as an insurance agent representing several companies. He retired from the New York Life Insurance Company.

Van loved the outdoors and especially the water. Duck hunting on "The Prairie", fishing on Black Lake, and week-long boating trips on Red River with friends and their sons made cherished memories for all. Cooking for friends and family, especially on holidays, gave Van much joy. Christmas Festival day was a time of "Open House" when he would invite family, friends, and even a few strangers to visit, eat, and rest. After retirement, Van shared his interest in gun collecting and firearms with others by trading, buying, and selling firearms at various gun shows throughout Louisiana. Many friendships were formed with other vendors and gun enthusiasts.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Jude's research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN, or to Make-A-Wish Foundation.

There will be a memorial service to honor Van's life at a later date.