Gordon Barker, 89 of New Sharon and formerly of Clio, Iowa passed away Thursday, December 31, 2020 at the Mahaska Health Partnership in Oskaloosa. As was Gordon's wish, his body will be cremated and will be buried in the Clio Cemetery in Clio, Iowa. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Holland-Coble Funeral Home of New Sharon is in charge of arrangements.

Gordon LeRoy Barker, the son of Ross and Margaret (Waddle) Barker, was born on August 21, 1931 in Boone County, Iowa. He graduated from Allerton High School in 1948. Following high school at the age of 17, Gordon enlisted in the United States Navy where he was a correspondent Journalist-Photographer-Broadcaster.

During his time in the Navy, Gordon's mission was to Observe and Report activities and incidents relative to Naval and Marine Corps operations with Task Force 77 of the 7 ^th Fleet; including Guam, Siapan, Okinawa, Japan, Korea and the Formosa Straits and other fleet positions. Moved on Naval combat ships such as Destroyers, Cruisers, Battleships, Carriers, Tankers, Air Craft and land bases such as Yokosuka. Sasebo, Pusan and Inchon, utilizing cameras, Portable Typewriters and Wire Recorders.

His enlistment also was extended due to the Korean Conflict and he was assigned to Army General Headquarters as a censor at Radio Tokyo where he received secret and confidential military reports and published news releases to civilian news and broadcasting correspondents. Six months prior to the end of his extension tour, he was transferred to Navy Air Transport Squadron Three, Public Information Office in Sunnyvale, California.

He was awarded the Japanese Occupation, Korean Service, United Nations, Task Force 77, Unit commendation and Good Conduct Medals. He was selected as navy journalist of the month in November 1951 and was privileged to Escort and report on the first Korean War casualties to be returned from the Korean Theatre.  Gordon's biggest honored was to have joined in the awarding of the "Purple Heart" medal to many of the wounded service men, and to have escorted the first group of Korean War Dead back to Pearl Harbor.

Gordon was honorably discharged in 1952 and was united in marriage to Phyllis Hesseltine on May 2, 1953 in Clio, Iowa. To this union three children were born, Scott, Bill and Bev. Following his time with the United States Navy, Gordon worked as an Inventory Production Control and a Plant Manager at several manufacturing companies all over the country for several years.

Throughout Gordon's life he was in a couple of movie productions, "War in Remembrance" and "Quantrill and his Raiders". He enjoyed playing his guitar and his cowboy boots and held music jams. He also put out a music CD and wrote all of his own songs. He was also an avid Golfer. Gordon was a member of the VFW.

His legacy will be cherished by his wife, Phyllis of New Sharon; his son, Scott Barker of Oskaloosa; his daughter Bev Stephen of New Sharon; five grandchildren, Adam Stephen, Stephanie Stephen, Cassie (Scott) Meier, Melissa Hoye and Ross Barker; 10 great grandchildren and many other relatives and friends.

Gordon was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Bill; four siblings, Geneva, James, Nadine and Ronald and a son-in-law, Royce Stephen.