Jentra
Jentra Barker
d. May 5, 2012
Obituary for Jentra J. Barker
Jentra Jean Barker died Saturday, May 5, 2012, at her home in Durango. She was 81.
Mrs. Barker was born to Irvin and Marion Jarvis on Dec. 14, 1930, in Glenwood Springs, Colo. Her family moved to Durango in 1946, and she graduated from Durango High School in 1948.
After studying for two years at Colorado College, Mrs. Barker graduated from Stanford University with a degree in English literature and Chinese history.
On Sept. 21, 1952, she married Earl Barker, Jr., in Durango. They managed hotels in San Francisco and Honolulu until his father, Earl Barker Sr., asked them to return to Durango to run the Strater Hotel. Mrs. Barker returned the Strater to the Victorian Age by furnishing it with American Victorian Walnut Antiques. She worked with designer Robert Klein on the plans for the Diamond Belle Saloon and the Terrace Restaurant, predecessors of today's Mahogany Grille.
Mrs. Barker served as a board member and president of the Fort Lewis College Foundation beginning in the late 1970s and continuing until 1985. She was a longtime supporter of Music in the Mountains and the Durango Arts Center.
She was queen of the Spanish Trails Fiesta, and in 2010 she was named a grand marshal for the Durango Fiesta Days’ 75th anniversary. An active horsewoman, Jentra Barker began riding at the age of 3 and rode until she was 80. She created many of the trails around Haviland Lake. She enjoyed traveling, gardening, reading, and playing golf and bridge.
Mrs. Barker was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Earl Barker Jr. She is survived by her son, Roderick Barker of Durango; daughter, Jeannie Wheeldon of Durango; four grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
A memorial service for will be held at 3:30 p.m. Friday, May 18, 2012, at Durango Arts Center.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Boys and Girls Club of La Plata County, 2750 Main Ave., Durango, CO 81301; or the Barker Family Scholarship, c/o Fort Lewis College Foundation, 1000 Rim Drive, Durango, CO 81301.
Reprinted in part from the Durango Herald.
Mrs. Barker was born to Irvin and Marion Jarvis on Dec. 14, 1930, in Glenwood Springs, Colo. Her family moved to Durango in 1946, and she graduated from Durango High School in 1948.
After studying for two years at Colorado College, Mrs. Barker graduated from Stanford University with a degree in English literature and Chinese history.
On Sept. 21, 1952, she married Earl Barker, Jr., in Durango. They managed hotels in San Francisco and Honolulu until his father, Earl Barker Sr., asked them to return to Durango to run the Strater Hotel. Mrs. Barker returned the Strater to the Victorian Age by furnishing it with American Victorian Walnut Antiques. She worked with designer Robert Klein on the plans for the Diamond Belle Saloon and the Terrace Restaurant, predecessors of today's Mahogany Grille.
Mrs. Barker served as a board member and president of the Fort Lewis College Foundation beginning in the late 1970s and continuing until 1985. She was a longtime supporter of Music in the Mountains and the Durango Arts Center.
She was queen of the Spanish Trails Fiesta, and in 2010 she was named a grand marshal for the Durango Fiesta Days’ 75th anniversary. An active horsewoman, Jentra Barker began riding at the age of 3 and rode until she was 80. She created many of the trails around Haviland Lake. She enjoyed traveling, gardening, reading, and playing golf and bridge.
Mrs. Barker was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Earl Barker Jr. She is survived by her son, Roderick Barker of Durango; daughter, Jeannie Wheeldon of Durango; four grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
A memorial service for will be held at 3:30 p.m. Friday, May 18, 2012, at Durango Arts Center.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Boys and Girls Club of La Plata County, 2750 Main Ave., Durango, CO 81301; or the Barker Family Scholarship, c/o Fort Lewis College Foundation, 1000 Rim Drive, Durango, CO 81301.
Reprinted in part from the Durango Herald.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Jentra Barker, please visit our flower store.
Guestbook
Visits: 13
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors