Adam Todd Barber
1961-2016
Adam Todd Barber, 54, passed away Tuesday, August 16th, 2016. He was born October 5th, 1961 to Ivan and Bobbie Barber (Lopez) in Portsmouth, VA.
Adam grew up in Edmond and graduated from Edmond Memorial High School in 1979. Soon after he graduated high school, Adam attended Central State University where he met the love of his life, Natalie Williams. He graduated from Central State University with his B.S. in Accounting in 1985, the same year that he and Natalie were married and began their life together. Three years after receiving his B.S. in Accounting, Adam became a Certified Public Accountant. He went on to receive his M.B.A. from the University of Central Oklahoma in May 1998.
Adam started his accounting career as the Finance Manager at Frontier City in 1986. In 1988, he began working as a Budget Specialist for the Oklahoma Medical Center. In 1990, he joined the Oklahoma Department of Human Services as a Budget Specialist. He left OKDHS to work as the Director of Administrative Services and Chief Financial Officer for the Oklahoma Department of Commerce from 2004 – 2010. He returned to OKDHS in 2010 as the Finance Administrator for Accounts Payable. Adam held various positions within OKDHS and spent 15 of his 30 years of public service as a manager who truly considered his co-workers and employees to be his extended family.
Adam was a devoted husband of 31 years and a loving father of two. He enjoyed listening to a wide variety of music, his favorite genre being classic rock. He spent many weekends working around the family home as a handyman, taking great pride in learning new skills. He frequently exercised his culinary skills in the kitchen and loved to cook Sunday breakfast. He took great pleasure in spending time outdoors – fishing and camping with his family and friends. He never ceased to make his family and friends laugh or smile with his quirky sense of humor. Adam was compassionate towards all human beings and made a habit of making lunches out of left-over holiday dinners to personally deliver to the less fortunate.
Adam was a life-long Christian and attended Metro Church along with his family and continued his worship there when it became Life Church. He spent many nights relaxing at home with his wife, children, and numerous pets while watching Netflix documentaries and series. He was always learning and enjoyed having his viewpoints challenged by new information.
Adam is preceded in death by his mother and grandmother, Bobbie Lopez and Margaret Wilmoth, his uncles Larry Cone and Donald Bryant, aunt Gaye Bryant, and cousin Don Gene Bryant. He is survived by his father Ivan Barber and step-mother Penny Barber, his wife Natalie Barber, two children Jessica and Andrew Barber, brother Kevin Barber, Kevin’s wife Denise Barber, Kevin’s step-son and daughter-in-law Trapper and Macy Wilson and their family, Kevin’s son Ben Barber, as well as numerous cousins, nephews, and niece.
A celebration of Adam’s life and legacy will be held Saturday, August 20th, 2016 at 3 p.m. at Matthews Funeral Home in Edmond, OK.
To Adam’s family:
I worked with Adam at Commerce and I respected his honesty and integrity greatly. He was a joy to be around and brought a fresh outlook to everything he did.
I want you to know he always talked about his wife and two children with a genuine love and sense of great pride for all of you. I know you are sad and I share in your sadness of a life that ended before anyone was ready
to say goodbye. You are in my prayers.
Steve Walker
I worked with Adam in DHS Finance. We had many work related conversations, but when we talked about his family, his eyes lit up. There was no question about his love for you. He was the kind of friend you knew you could count on. No words can ease your pain, but know that I will continue to keep your family in my prayers. My heart is aching for you.
Love,
Janie Dyer
Natalie and family,
I grieve with you for your loss. Adam was my first office mate at OU Med Center. He told me many stories and made me laugh almost daily. We had a good group working together there and each were like family. He loved you a lot! He will be missed by all of us. He was a smart, good, and caring person.
Natalie and family,
I was so sorry to learn of Adam’s passing. Kathryn and I have so many good memories of Girl Scouts with your family, and Adam was such a great Girl Scout dad. He made me laugh — a lot! My heart goes out to all of you.
God bless.
I worked with Adam at DHS Commodity Distribution. He was a wonderful man. My daughter always wanted to go see Adam when she came to the office because he would entertain her and was so nice. I have not talked to him much in the years since I retired and he had moved on to other departments but when we did have a chance to talk he would get me caught up on the kids and their many activities. He would talk about his wife and kids with love and affection. Adam was a family man. He will be missed by all of us who knew and loved him.
My name is David Baker. I worked with Adam at DHS. I also helped him level his back yard at his former house. He brought the dirt to my house. His daughter and son loved our place. I believe his daughter enjoyed our horse.
I plan to attend the funeral if I can return from a Model T Ford meeting in Ponca City earlier in the day. I am an officer in the club and I cannot be in two places at one time.
I will greatly miss Adam. We both have a CPA Certificate and I have known him for many years. He will be greatly missed.
Natalie and Ivan, I knew Adam through you, Ivan. He was so much like you in appearance and as I recall, in other ways as well. I’m so sorry for your loss. He is certainly gone too soon and you will all be in my prayers for comfort and strength now and in the future.
Adam will be truly missed at DHS. He was always so kind, funny and smart and brought a smile to my face each time we talked. What a genuine blessing he was to all of us across many parts of the agency, including Child Support. I am so deeply sorry for your family’s loss and praying for you all. May you find peace in knowing he is with our Lord and celebrating his victory as a good and faithful servant.
I worked with Adam at DHS for several years and I considered him to be not only one of the most knowledgeable people, but also one of the kindest. He also had an irreverent sense of humor and an endearing boyish quality.
Natalie, my prayers are with you and the kids. May God help you and bless you through this hard time.
Jess,
I am so sorry for you loss. While I did not know your dad personally, I know he must have been a wonderful man because only a great man could raise such a wonderful person. I hope you can find some comfort in knowing how many people are here to support you. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Natalie, Jessica, and Andrew,
We are so sorry for your loss of such a wonderful husband and father. Our hearts and prayers are with you all. Love Blaine, Barbie, Brantly and Braxton
Dear Natalie, Jessica and Andrew.
We are so sorry for your loss. Adam was my mentor at DHS. He was not only a good mentor but also good friend.
When you met Adam, you did actually meet Adam. He was always himself and the most authentic person I have ever known. Always open minded and genuinely caring towards everyone. He was and is a blessing to myself and everyone who knew him.
To a Great Mentor…you will be so missed.
DHS simply won’t be the same without Adam.
For all the years I knew him, Adam was one of the best and brightest at DHS. During his first DHS tour, he was instrumental in working out the financial fine points in the privatizing of the Robert M.. Greer Center in 1999, an effort that greatly improved services to the individuals residing there. It also proved to be the first in a long line of steps that finally saw an end to institutionalizing people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in state facilities. A man of intelligence, integrity, and good humor, Adam will be sorely missed. I am glad I had the opportunity to work with him.
Dear Natalie, Jessica & Andrew
I met Adam back in his OU days — even though he was not there very long we have been able to keep in touch and go to lunch over the years. The comments at the service today were very much on target . He could be a brainiac, but he liked to get dirty and fix things.
I got a real kick out of Adam telling about mowing lawns, $20, no bagging & no edging.
There seemed to be something always needing to be fixed on his car.
He was the kind of person that is a friend for life –he was interested in you as a person .
You had to enjoy his sense of humor.
I am fortunate to have known Adam. I am so sorry for your loss and pray our Lord will give you strength.
Vic
I worked with Adam at DHS for several years. He was the nicest person. He would willing assist without hesitation if I had a finance question or issue. Always displayed a positive attitude. We will miss him. My deepest condolences to his family and know that God is with you.