Obituary of Richard J. Barber

Richard Jay Barber was born November 5, 1948, in Portland, OR. He wasthe 4th son of Georgia Eskildsen Barber.

Rich grew up on dairy farms in Oregon until his family moved to Montanashortly before the Columbus Day storm in 1962. He played football,

basketball, and baseball in high school, and had a lifelong love of all sports. He attended Whitefish High School, finishing at the age of 17 in 1966. With the military draft looming in this country, he and his high schoolbuddies decided to enlist so they could choose what branch of the military to serve in. He chose the Marine Corps. and was proud of his service until the day he died. He served on an artillery hill in Vietnam, and in later years suffered the effects of being regularly sprayed with the defoliant Agent Orange.

After military service, Rich returned to Portland, Oregon to begin college which led to a successful career as a CPA level accountant mainly in

various entertainment enterprises.

While in college, he met and married Judy Carter in 1970, and they remained together 53 years until his death. They had 2 daughters

(Elizabeth Barber Brown and Lindsay Barber Tischler), and Rich loved being a “Girl Dad”. He taught his girls to fish and camp, and they taught

him to dress Barbies.

Rich was hired by KXL radio in Portland in 1971, and that launched a career with Kaye-Smith Enterprises which led to moving his young family to Seattle, WA, and eventually to being on the first staff of the new Seattle Mariners baseball team (owned in part by Danny Kaye and Lester Smith of Kaye-Smith Enterprises).

After his time with the Mariners, he also worked with Concerts West, andeventually with Golden West Broadcasting which was owned by Gene

Autry the “singing cowboy”. Seattle radio stations KPLZ and KVI were part of Golden West at that time.

Outside of work, Rich was a devoted family man and loving husband who loved spending time and traveling with Judy and the girls. He treasured

making father/daughter memories with his girls and later his grandchildren and godchildren as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He enjoyed many “adventures” with his “foster son” Daniel Bertram. The effects of Agent Orange appeared first as small cell lung cancer in early 2018. Cancer was also discovered in both kidneys. It was later found to be in his brain and throat, all of which were treated and became “inactive” for a period of time until the end of 2023.

Rich died surrounded by loving family December 20, 2023, in ICU in Vancouver, WA. He had been determined to beat all odds right up until the

end. The world lost a bright light of energy, love, and philanthropy from a man who was larger than life to all who knew him. Rich Barber is a true

example of “a life well lived”. Rest in Peace until we meet again, my love.