Anita Louise Barker, 77, loving mother, grandmother and sister, passed into the arms of the Lord the evening of February 19th, 2026. After previously surviving breast cancer more than once, she succumbed after a prolonged battle with Alzheimer’s Dementia.
She was born Anita Louise Bahlman April 14th, 1948, in Yolo County, California, the eldest of seven children. She graduated from Esparto High School in 1966 and went straight to work as a Pacific Bell and later AT&T operator and manager until she retired. She married David “Dave” Barker in 1969, thus starting a life filled with a zoo of animals, planes, trains, motor bikes, gardening and cooking for a whole host of activities.
Anita was an avid pet mom and always had something fuzzy to share a couch with. She was also heavily involved with her large, close-knit family. As a talented cake, pie and biscuit maker she was known far and wide as “Baker Barker” a talent which came in handy for family gatherings and not a few weddings. She enjoyed reading, and was talented at sewing. She made clothing for her siblings while growing up, as well as plenty of costumes. She made wardrobe for musicals and many prom dresses in the middle of the night. In her later years in West Virginia, she began doing art. She attended many art and Tai Chi classes at the Gilmer County Senior Center, and drawing and coloring at home. Since moving to West Virginia, she became a regular attendee of Sand Fork Church of God.
Anita is lovingly remembered and survived by her daughter, Belinda Jo Ford and her husband Jared Ford, of Glenville, brothers Joe Bahlman of Hercules, CA, Scott Bahlman of Esparto, CA, John Bahlman of Vacaville, CA, sisters, Janine La Pord of Citrus Heights, CA, and Valoree Bahlman of Esparto, CA, as well as four grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews and a legion of cousins, all of whom she loved very much.
She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Vernia (Criner) Bahlman, her brother William Nicholas “Nick” Bahlman and her husband David Barker.
A memorial service and reception will be conducted at Sand Fork Church of God of Prophecy, 122 Burk St. Sand Fork, WV 26430, TBA. Pastor Bryan Groves officiating.
A Celebration of Life is being planned in CA at a later date.
The family is grateful to Ellyson Mortuary for their help and rapid, caring nighttime response. A special thank you to Felicia Dawn Greene and the hospice nursing staff of WV Caring. They all went above and beyond their roles of care-givers.
