David Roy Barber

David Roy Barber

November 21, 1943 – March 18, 2024

David Roy Barber of Chariton died on March 18, 2024. We rejoice that his body is well and strong again, and he has reunited with his much-missed daughter, parents and other loved ones in heaven.

David was born on November 21, 1943, in Vancouver, Washington, to Roy and Nina (Taylor) Barber, the youngest of their three kids. When David was a toddler, the family returned home to Iowa – first to Des Moines, then to a farm near Nina’s family outside of Chariton.

David grew up in a house built by his dad, learning how to build and how to farm. He graduated from Chariton High School in 1962. In 1965 he began a four-decade career at Hy-Vee, in both the warehouse and for 32 years as a truck driver before retiring in 2002. When Hy-Vee began their Road of Gold program, recognizing drivers with 1 million miles without an accident, David was one of the first drivers to reach that milestone.

In 1966 his friend Jim Nelson proposed setting him up on a blind date with Jim’s cousin Charlene Hayes from Guthrie Center. David and Charlene married in July 1968 and settled in Chariton, eventually buying the farm where David had grown up. There they raised their daughters Lorie (adopted from Korea in 1974 at age 1) and Sherrie (adopted from Korea in 1976 at age 6 months).

For 30+ years, David would get home from driving truck around noon, take a nap, then work in the fields till dinner. He and Charlene raised livestock and crops. In addition, after taking remote theology classes from Liberty University, David was ordained as a Baptist minister in 1985. He pastored the Good Shepherd Baptist Church in Chariton for 13 years and served as a guest preacher at area churches for several years afterward.

When people remember David, they will think of someone who didn't talk a lot, but worked hard and loved God and loved his family with his whole heart. He enjoyed tractors, classic cars, animals, American history, studying the Bible and spending time with his granddaughters. He was soft-spoken, and he lived his life by a set of strong principles. Work hard. Support your family. Help people. Obey God. Always have animals around. Do what needs to be done, even if it's not what you want to do.

David is survived by his wife, Charlene; his daughter Sherrie (Brent) Willson and their two daughters, Lila and Mya, of Grand Rapids, Mich.; his son-in-law Kurt Thompson of Lakeville, Minn.; his sister Susanne Barber of Chariton; his brother John (Coleen) Barber of Grand Junction, Colo.; their children, Dennis, Philip (Cindy), Nanette (John) Latta, Ellen, and Jennifer (Chris) Mennenga of Colorado; and numerous Barber and Taylor cousins.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Roy and Nina (Taylor) Barber, and his daughter, Lorie.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, March 21, at 6 p.m. at Fielding Funeral Home. Memorial service will be on Friday, March 22, at 11 a.m. at Fielding, followed by internment at Oxford Cemetery and a luncheon at the Christian Union Church in Chariton.  

In lieu of flowers, David's family would appreciate donations to St. Jude's Children's Hospital or the Christian Union Church in Chariton.

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