Jack W. Barker

Jack W. Barker of Lakeland, Florida and Beech Mountain, North Carolina, passed away on November 25, 2021. He was born on July 6, 1923, in Bristol, Virginia. Jack was an outstanding athlete in high school where he was captain of the football and basketball teams. He was voted most outstanding athlete in 1942. He still holds the Virginia High School record for five touchdowns in one game. He received four football scholarship offers from William and Mary, Virginia Tech, Emory & Henry, and Tusculum College. Because he was offered a full scholarship, he chose Tusculum where he was voted into the College Sports Hall of Fame in 1984 as the only athlete to letter in five sports, In December 1942 he enlisted into the United States Naval Air Corp and was discharged in 1945. After military service he returned to Tusculum and graduated with a 8.A. degree. In 1948 he started the football program at Lebanon High School in Lebanon, Virginia. Starting in 1955, and for many years, Jack coached American Legion Baseball where he won 517 games and 24 championships. He was recognized by the American Red Cross as one of the best water safety and swimming instructors in the country for over 30 years and served as the Dean of Aquatic School in Brevard, North Carolina. In April 1976 he and wife Jeanne opened Barker Travel Agency in Brandon. Over the years they traveled to over 90 countries and went on 28 cruises. They closed the travel agency on September 11, 2001after 25 years. After many years as a math teacher and football and swim coach, he retired from Lakeland High School, He is survived by his daughter, Becky Proud and her husband Bill. His wife Jeanne preceded his death in 2009 after 59 years of marriage. She was an R.N. and Assistant Director of Nursing at Lakeland Regional Hospital and an award-winning artist. A memorial service will be held on Friday December 17, 2021, at 1:00pm at Heath Funeral Chapel. Please wear a mask if not fully vaccinated.