Charles P. Barker, 91, of South Deerfield, Massachusetts died peacefully on Feb. 6, 2018 leaving his wife, Elizabeth, after 61 years of marriage.

Charles was born in Lincoln, New Hampshire, in 1926, the son of Elliott Barker Jr. and Muriel (Peterson) Barker. He attended schools in Waterville, Maine, graduating from high school in 1944. Charles served in the U. S. Army and received an honorable discharge in 1946. Following that, he earned a B.S. in aeronautics from the University of St. Louis and went to work for American Airlines as a meteorologist in Fort Worth, Texas and Los Angeles, California.

Charles married Elizabeth Gardiner in 1957. The couple left Los Angeles in 1963 to move to Massachusetts where Charles joined his father and brother at Deerfield Plastics Company in South Deerfield. Charles served as president of the company from 1970-1994, and was chairman of the board until 1996 when the company was sold to Huntsman Packaging Corporation.

Charles’s passion for his community was evidenced by his participation on numerous boards, including the Greenfield Community College Foundation, Franklin Medical Center, and Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts. His modesty concealed his extraordinary generosity to organizations within Franklin County and beyond.

In retirement, Charles and Betty split their time between South Deerfield and Boothbay, Maine where he was a member of the yacht club. Charles was an avid and lifelong sailor, enthusiastic traveler, downhill skier, and enjoyed the study of maritime and military history. He was well-known for his love of animals, especially his golden retrievers - April, Goldie and Jay. Charles was loved by his family and friends for his sense of humor, curious nature, confidence and talent for storytelling. 

Charles is survived by his wife, Betty; daughter Ann of Whately, Massachusetts; brother Elliott R. Barker III and sister-in-law Jean (Cressy) Barker of Boothbay; and nieces Sue and Mary.

A celebration of Charles’s life will be held in May at Quonquont Farm, Whately, Massachusetts. Donations in his memory may be made to either Dakin Humane Society or the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts.

Expressions of sympathy are available at: www.wrisleyfuneralhome.com