Marvin Wayne Barber was born in the same small farmhouse that his father was born in and his grandfather built near Mattoon, Illinois. He attended school in a one room building that had all grade levels together called Crabapple Apple “Crick”. He moved in with his older brother Andrew and worked at JC Penny in order to go to high school in Mattoon, Illinois. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge of Mattoon, Illinois. He joined the United States Army Air Corp where he was a radio operator and technician in the B17 bomber. He attended college at Eastern Illinois University on the GI bill. After his military service he held several jobs including being a milkman for Meadow Gold Dairies, delivering ice blocks, and traveling all over the country repairing air conditioners. For a short time he was even a black jack dealer. He taught field maintenance and radio repair to US Army personnel across the country and overseas at the Army Signal Depot in Decatur, Illinois. At the Signal Depot he met the love of his life, Myrna Hatton. In 1960 they moved to Huntsville, Alabama where he became the Director of Logistics for Redstone Arsenal. After retiring he worked for Bambsi Inc. where he was a Director for the base support contract for Redstone Arsenal. He was a kind and gentle person who loved to help everyone. He was relied on by the entire family to fix and repair anything around the house, whether it be building an addition, fixing a broken car engine, air conditioner or any electrical appliance. He played fast pitch softball and golf. He was known as the Energizer Bunny because he never sat still and was also lovingly nicknamed Marvin the spiller. Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, John and Gladys Barber of Mattoon, Illinois, and was also preceded in death by his brothers John Jr. and Andrew. He is survived by his wife, Myrna Hatton Barber, son, Steve Barber (Michi) of Forsyth, Illinois; daughters Elizabeth (Beth) Rich of Huntsville and Peggy Meagher of Toney; Grandchildren Caleb Barber, Natalie Meadows, TJ Barber, Rachel Barber and Hayley Meagher; and eleven great grandchildren, Elisabeth Barber, Delaney Barber, Jessica Barber, Reagan Barber, Chele Barber, Jessica Scroggins, Christian Barber, Aiden Barber, Alivia Barber, AJ Barber and Lapo Meadows; two brothers, Glen (Lucy) Barber of Lexington, Kentucky and Richard Barber of Matton, Illinois and sister Joyce Oakley (Marvin) of Casey, Illinois. Visitation will be Saturday, March 28, 2015 from 10:00am until 12:00pm at Berryhill Funeral Home with a Celebration of Life service following at 12:00pm. Burial will follow at Valhalla Memory Gardens. Berryhill Funeral Home is assisting the family.
