Clyde Merle Barber

Clyde Merle Barber

“A Life Well Lived”

August 15, 1923 – September 11, 2021

Our beloved Husband, Dad, Grandpa, Great-Grandpa, Uncle, and Friend Clyde Merle (“Merle”) Barber, 98, passed away on Saturday, September 11, 2021, at his home surrounded by his family.

Merle was born August 15, 1923 in Cushing, OK to Clyde E. Barber and Ruby E. Barber (Gant-Craft)

Merle exemplified everything that members of his generation,  the “Greatest Generation,” stood for. Dedication, commitment, God, country and hard-work. Merle lived his life to the fullest. He loved and was loved by his family and countless other friends and people he worked with. Merle founded and ran Barber’s Radio and Television located in downtown Oklahoma City. Barber’s Radio building was near the Alfred P. Murrah federal building when it was bombed in 1995. After the bombing, Merle chose to retire from his radio business and begin his life focused solely on his family and love of antique cars. Merle enjoyed his work with the Sooner Horseless Carriage Club, which he had helped establish in OKC in 1962.

Although Merle grew up mostly in Oklahoma, he graduated from Floydada High School in Floydada, Texas in 1942.  He married Rosalie A. (“Babe”) Genzer in 1943 and shortly thereafter entered military service with the Army Air Corp (now the US Air Force) where he served in the 15^th Weather Squadron in New Guinea during WWII.  It was during his service in WWII that Merle worked with radio technology and became an expert in making radios work at maximum efficiency, often with less than a full supply of necessary parts. His station was an important, but extremely remote, outpost used by the Air Corps for measuring high-altitude winds and repeating radio transmissions to Allied force aircraft squadrons as they navigated through the Pacific Theater to stockpile weapons and aircraft designed to protect the Australian continent from Japanese invasion. After the fall of the Japanese empire and the end of WWII, Merle’s service to our country was completed and he took his honorable discharge in December of 1945.

Returning to life after the war, Babe and Merle were blessed with three daughters. Carol, Susan, and Linda. Babe became ill and passed away in 1956 leaving Merle a single Dad.  In 1957 Merle and June M. Desjardin were married.  With June, Merle was blessed with two more daughters, Christi and Julie.  In 1983, June became ill and passed away, once again leaving Merle as a single dad. In late 1983, Merle reconnected with Norma A. Thompson Woodside and they would have celebrated their 38^th wedding anniversary on November 19, 2021.

The family is blessed to have had such amazing examples as Merle, Babe, June, and Norma, who loved us, cared for us and were always there. We are honored to celebrate Merle’s life today.

He is survived by:

Wife: Norma Thompson Barber

Daughters: Carol A. Cline (Marvin), Susan J. Snelson (John), Linda J. Neighbors, Christi M. Barber and Julie E. McPherson (Brad)­­

Grandchildren:  Angie Hoffmeister, Eric Steiner (Shannon), Ryan Holcomb (Michelle), Kerri Whitley (Mickey), Kim Rosen (Justin), and Colton Ring Saylor (Leslie)

Step-Grandchildren: Kyle Cline (Jaja), Krista McNair (Jeff), Kim Booth (Danny), Schaun Adams (Mike), John T. Snelson (Heidi), Christian Snelson (Kari), Kyle McPherson (Nina), Kevin McPherson (Sarah), Jennifer Anderson (Monty), JD Woodside (Angie), and Trey Woodside (Christa)

Great-Grandchildren: Kevin Hoffmeister, Nathan Corey, Austin Steiner, Kara Steiner, Jenna Steiner, Lauren Steiner, Blythe Holcomb, Joli Holcomb, Lilly Whitley, Gracie Whitley, Paxton Rosen, Preslie Rosen, Savannah Rosen, Preslee Lyons Ring Saylor, and Teagan Ring Saylor, Marcia Woodside, many step-grandchildren, cousins, nieces, nephews, and other family members

He is preceded in death by:

1^st wife: Rosalie A. (“Babe”) Barber (Genzer)

2^nd wife: June M. Barber (Desjardin)

Parents: Clyde E. and Ruby E. Barber

Brothers: Boyd W. Barber, Leo W. Barber and Robert D. Barber

 

Merle’s Celebration of Life

Celebration of Life will be at Matthews Funeral Home in Edmond on Wednesday, September 15, 2021, at 11:00 AM with Interment at Gracelawn Cemetery (Edmond) following. Services will be officiated by Father Cory Stanley and Pastor Lance Ward.

In lieu of flowers, the family would like you to consider donating to the DAV (Disabled American Veterans) or the Wounded Warrior Project.

Visitation will be held from Noon to 8 p.m., Tuesday, September 14, 2021 with family being present from 5 to 7 p.m. at Matthews Funeral Home.

Condolences can be sent to:

Barber Family

P.O. Box 21266

OKC, OK 73156

As well as:

Norma Barber

716 Greenbriar Ave Edmond, Oklahoma 73034

The service is available for viewing here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCa5EYMKiB8ZmqO7mzdH6K6A