Rodney William Barber

Rod Barber, 60

Rodney William Barber departed this life on Sunday, July 7, 2019, at his son, Robert’s home in Valley Center, Kansas.   He was the son of William A. and Janice M. (Johnson) Barber. He was born April 16, 1959, at Americus.   The family consisted of one sister, Ginger, four brothers, Ricky, Bill, Kory, and Rusty.

Rod graduated from Herington High School with the class of 1977.  Following high school he went to Vocational Technology School in Concordia.  He finished his program and returned to Herington to paint cars at the Crazy Cleve’s Game Train.  Following the game cars job, he decided to go into business for himself opening Rod’s Body Shop & Auto Glass.  He liked working on machines and making them run and always kept busy with body restoration. Whenever it was possible to get away, he would go fishing.

Rod married Doris Kay Burkhead on June 1, 1990, at the Church of the Nazarene in Herington.  They were the parents of Robert and Ryan.  On April 6, 2001, Doris was in a fatal car accident.  Rod became the sole provider for their two sons, Robert, age ten, and Ryan, age six.  His mother, Janice, died on December 16, 2007, and his father, Bill, died less than two years later on November 5, 2009.  His brother, Ricky, preceded in death on January 28, 2013. 

Survivors are his two sons, Robert and fiancé Kassie of Valley Center, Ryan Barber of Ness City; a sister, Ginger Vaughn of Americus; three brothers, Bill Barber and Rusty Barber of Herington, and Kory Barber of Hesston, Kansas. 

Memorials have been designated to the American Cancer Society; and may be sent in care of Yazel-Megli-Zeiner Funeral Home-Herington Chapel, 404 S. Broadway, Herington, KS, 67449-3038.