Barker, Llyle

1932 - 2021

Llyle J. Barker, Jr.,

age 88, enthusiastically

moved into eternal life with Jesus on January

15, 2021. Llyle was a faithful believer in God/jesus,

a dedicated husband, a loving father and grandfather, and friend to many who had the good fortune to know him. He was a distinguished American soldier and academician. His life, family, and friends have always been considered wonderful blessings from

God. Llyle was a member/ teacher/ former Elder at the Worthington Christian

Church, and a Bible scholar and teacher throughout life.

Llyle served a 30-year US

Army active duty military career culminating as Chief grade of Major General. As a soldier, Llyle served in a variety of Army command and military staff positions worldwide, seventeen of these years overseas. In

Europe, he commanded the 2/28th Field Artillery Battalion

and later the 210th

Artillery and Missile Brigade consisting of seven artillery battalions. He served as a military public affairs officer at every level of the military.

After military retirement,

Llyle joined the faculty of

The Ohio State University

School of Journalism, where he was a tenured associate professor and taught thousands of undergraduate and graduate public relations students, and was the academic advisor to many. Throughout his careers, he was nationally recognized as a motivational speaker and consultant on public relations, futurism, change communications, risk management, and crisis intervention.

Llyle was a graduate of

The Ohio State University (Bsceduc), Shippensburg

University (Msccommo), a special graduate program at the University of Wisconsin,

and a graduate of the

College and the Army War

College. He was active in a variety of national and local veterans, civic and public relations organizations. Llyle is survived by his wife/soulmate of 65 years, Maxine (Metcalf); two sons and daughtersin-law, Llyle III and Sue of

Lincoln, Illinois, and Daryl and Kim of Reynoldsburg; two grandsons, Matthew (Sydney) and Kevin; and two granddaughters,

Lydia (Derik) and Madalyn; sister-in-law, Judy Metcalf of Westerville; nephews,

Dick, Charles (Kay), and Jim (Helena) Doeble, and Terry and Todd (Kayla) Metcalf; many cousins, and friends.

Burial will be at Union

Cemetery. Llyle said he was moving on to his special reward in Heaven, and those remaining on earth should seek more ways to serve their God and those around them. In lieu of flowers, any contributions can be made to the Worthington Christian

Church Development

Fund (worthingtoncc.org).

A private ceremony will be held for immediate family.

Condolences to www.rutherfordfuneralhome.com.