71, died Wednesday, March 24th, 2021 in Westland, Michigan.
At first glance, Bill didn’t seem like the most approachable guy. He took a mischievous pride in this, often wearing pins with quotes like “I’m the sort of man your mother warned you about.” He looked the part of a curmudgeon with a scowl on his face, his cut-off denim shorts, a flat cadet cap, a leather vest, and until about 10 years ago, a box of cigarettes folded into the sleeve of his cartoon t-shirt. In actuality, he was one of the most generous people you might encounter in your lifetime. He spent his years working at a comic store, flea markets, and anywhere valuable trash/treasure could be found. However, no matter how much time went into finding a treasure, no matter what its value, he would always offer it first to family and friends who had a special interest.
Many family holidays were spent with him presenting such an offering to a family member with a fascinating story of how he found it. A brother who loves Coca-Cola products received any vintage piece that the Detroit area could provide. Brothers-in-law were gifted antique fishing lures collectors would salivate over. Hard-to-find Precious Moments items were given to a niece for her collection.
He dearly loved his neighbors, lending a hand for any project that needed it, even if just to tinker and talk. He lived in his beloved Great Grandmother’s house and was hit hard when crime meant that many of his neighbors had to move to safer areas. It was a point of pride for him to look after their places they couldn’t sell while they were away.
He also took care of the neighborhood’s many stray cats, going so far as to put a hole in his floor so they could decide when they wanted to come inside or stay under the house. When they were children, he would often ask his nieces and nephew to help him name the kittens born in a warm corner they found in the middle of the night.
Though Bill loved all kinds of discarded treasure, comic books, antique radios, and books were at the center of his love and collection. He had a special love for sci-fi, but most genres could be found in the literal floor-to-ceiling stacks that lived with him. He shared that love of sci-fi with his father, whom he was named after.
It was tough for Bill to outlive his mother, Marion Barker. She had special relationships with each of her children and grandchildren, and theirs was one of a kind. She fully embraced his impish spirit, often playing along. While in the Air Force during the Vietnam era, he would send her china, handkerchiefs, jewelry, and anything else he thought might delight her. After his father passed, Bill regularly drove the hour to his mother’s home to help her garden, put up Christmas decorations, or any other project that needed doing. Including hanging a swing from a tree to her delight. He would arrive the night of Christmas Eve to help with last-minute gift wrapping and stocking stuffing and to have a special Christmas morning breakfast with the neighbors next door. He loved his mother’s Pot Roast, City Chicken, and her Lemon Meringue pie.
His life was not full of love in the traditional way. He never married, never had kids, never shared his home with another. But Bill never lacked for love nor held it back. He will be dearly missed by his family, friends, neighbors, and just about everyone who knew him.
Bill was preceded in death by his father, William Glenn, and his mother, Marion Virginia (Mattison). He is survived by his siblings Madeline (James Higgins), Robert (Kathleen Easton), Kathleen (Brian Lueck), and David, his nieces and nephews Michelle, Jacqueline, Kristin, Daniel, and his great-nephew John.
His family will be holding a memorial on July 9th, 2022; all are welcome.
Please email BillBarkerMemorial@gmail.com to share your interest in attending. In the meantime, visit a comic book store or flea market and enjoy some Better Made potato chips and Faygo in his memory.
Thank you, everyone, for being there for Bill and helping him. He was very appreciative and was surprised at how many people cared for him.
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