Roland Darnell Barker, 97, of Pensacola, FL passed away on Friday, August 5, 2016.

Roland was the eldest child of 3 children born to Lillie and Samuel Barker and grew up in the rural community of Elba, Alabama. In 1926 his family moved to the Pittman Creek community in Holmes County, Northwest Florida. He attended local elementary and secondary schools including Leonia High School. In 1939, after his father's death, he joined the Conservation Corps and was sent to Eugene, OR to help build National Parks in the North West. He returned to Holmes County, FL to finish high school at Leonia where he met the love of his life, Margrette Thomas in 1942. Shortly afterwards he joined the Navy and after Naval Boot Camp training at the Great Lakes Illinois Naval Center, came home and married Margrette on October 9,1942.

Roland was a part of America's Greatest Generation and served in the US Navy as a Chief Petty Officer during WW2 in the Pacific Theater. He served in support of many island campaigns including Saipan and Iwo Jima during this period. After the war, in 1946 he was assigned to a flight squadron at the Boca Chica Naval Base in Key West, Fla.

During the next 6 years, he and Margrette had 3 wonderful boys, Ronald D. Barker, Lawrence W. Barker and Samuel L. Barker.

In 1952, Roland was discharged from the US Navy due to war time injuries sustained while on duty in the Pacific. Afterwards, he worked for Civil Service at the US Naval Air Station in Pensacola, FL. He retired from Civil Service after 21 years. He spent the following years fishing, hunting and traveling with his beloved wife Margrette and they traveled extensively throughout Europe and the USA until her death in 2013. They were married for 70 years and attended Ferry Pass United Methodist Church and St Luke United Methodist Church in Pensacola, FL for 41 years.

He is survived by his sons, Dr. Ronald D. Barker (Birgitt) of Munich, Germany, Lawrence (Larry) Barker (Linda) of Savannah, GA and Samuel (Sam) Barker (Theresa) of Pensacola, FL, 4 grandchildren, Jason Lawrence Barker (Ashlee), Brian Daniel Barker (Brandi), Cheryl Lynn Barker Brewer (Jason) and Ann Margrette Barker Sutton (Frank); 6 great grandchildren, Kyle Wesley Brewer, Fredrick Thomas Sutton, Matthew Roland Sutton, Daniel Marcus Sutton, Jack Dominy Barker and Charlotte Annie Barker.

Memorial services will be held 11:00am Saturday, August 27, 2016 at St. Luke United Methodist Church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Luke United Methodist Church, 1394 E. Nine Mile Rd., Pensacola, FL 32514.