Rev. William (Bill) Barber

Rev. William (Bill) Barber passed away peacefully at Spruce Lodge in Stratford on Sunday, Jan. 17, 2016. He was in his 89th year.
Bill was the loving husband of Laura Barber, nee Urquhart, for 55 years and dear father of Neil and Marie Mitchell, Walton, and son, Daryl. He was the proud grandpa of Emily, Sean, Sarah and Claire Mitchell. He is also survived by nieces and nephews Bob and Sharon Matthews, Grant Matthews, Dr. June Matthews and Ibrahim Moharram, Gerald and Mary Golem and their families, as well as sisters-in-law Leila Kjarside, Eileen Urquhart and Violet Urquhart and their families. Bill was predeceased by his parents Harold and Charlotte (Porter) Barber, his brother-in-law and sister Art and Islay Matthews, and nephew Keith Matthews, as well as brothers- and sisters-in law, Donald Urquhart, Wilmer and Mary Urquhart, Christina Hanna, Kris Kjarside and Allan Urquhart.
Bill was born in Normanby Township in 1927. In the late 1950s, he left the family farm and pursued an education as he felt called to the ministry. He graduated from Presbyterian College in Montreal in 1966. Bill served his ordained missionary appointment in Melfort, Saskatchewan. He also served in St. Andrews and Southminster in Brandon, Manitoba, and Knox in Lloydminster, Alberta. Returning to Ontario in 1984, Bill served in First Presbyterian, Seaforth and St. Andrews Presbyterian, Clinton, and Livingston Presbyterian, Baden, before retiring to Bayfield, where he provided supply at Knox Presbyterian Church for seven years.
Friends were received at the Falconer Funeral Home, Clinton on Wednesday, Jan. 20. The funeral service will be held at Knox Presbyterian Church, Cranbrook on Thursday, Jan. 21 at 11 a.m. Interment will take place at Maplewood Cemetery near Durham in the spring.
Memorial donations to Ronald McDonald House of Southwestern Ontario or Evangel Hall Mission would be greatly appreciated. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Falconer Funeral Homes.
Messages of condolence for the Barber and Mitchell family may be sent to www.falconerfuneral homes.com