Russell H. Barker

Russell H. Barker, long time local businessman, passed away on January 6, 2022. Russell was born in Clayton, NM on November 2, 1933.

he family moved to Amarillo where he spent his childhood. Russell joined the US Marines on January 1, 1953, and served in the Korean War. After he was honorably discharged in December 1955, he returned to the Amarillo area and began working at Cummins Sales and Service. He worked at Cummins Rio Grande in Farmington, NM where he began as a diesel mechanic and worked his way up to Vice President at the Albuquerque location. He used his expertise in the industry to help in developing the diesel mechanics program at TVI, now known as CNM.

When he left Cummins, he opened the GoodYear Tire Center in the NE Heights. He then opened the American Auto Clinic on Candelaria. He continued to help at the shop whenever he could.

He was proceeded in death by his wife, Veona Barker (Ramsay); his parents, Sharon and Lillye Barker (Dodds); siblings Sharlene and Bill Chisum, Gerald Barker. He is survived by life partner, Sandra Norman; siblings, Tommy Ellen Gayler, Betty and Joe Genereux, Terry and Aretta Barker, Donna Barker; children, Ronald Barker, D’Anna Barker, Rusty and wife Cris Barker, Meredith Tafoya and husband Jeff Bajin; grandchildren, Kristoper and wife Darcy Barker, Brandan and wife Katie McGuire, Demi and Mike Cummings, Kortney Barker, Sean and wife Carrie Tafoya, Arika Tafoya, Jaysen Tafoya, Chloe Bajin and Andrew Bajin; and great-grandchildren, Samuel Sanchez, Gavin McGuire, Kaci Barker, Adaline McGuire, Aidan McGuire, Madeleine Tafoya, and Liam Cummings.

A Funeral Service to celebrate his life will be held Monday, January 24, 2022, 10:00 a.m. at the FRENCH - Lomas.