Kenneth Reece Barker “KRB” was born February 1st 1932 in Benham, North Carolina, USA. He graduated from North Carolina State University earning a B.S. in Agronomy (1956) as well as a M.S. in Plant Pathology (1959). He married Betty Flynt in 1958 and they moved to Wisconsin. In 1961 he received a Ph.D. degree in Plant Pathology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, he then worked there as a professor until 1966. He returned to NCSU as a professor/researcher and worked until his retirement in 1998.
Ken was a World Traveler. He toured the majority of the States in the USA- Including Hawaii and Alaska. His family spent 6 weeks in Brazil – following an earlier stay in Venezuela. Subsequent excursions included Israel, the UK, France, Belgium, Scotland, The Netherlands, Spain, China, Thailand, Pakistan, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Australia and Canada. After his retirement, his near endless trips involved Disney World, Barbados, cruises to the Caribbean, Belize, Grand Turks, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Sint Maarten with his children, grandchildren, sons-in-law, and Betty. Topsail Island and Wilkes County were frequent trips enjoyed with family and friends. Ken Barker passed away on August 22, 1022.