William (Bill) C. Barber, 79, Freeport, IL, a former resident of El Dorado Springs, passed away Dec. 16, 2009, at a Wisconsin hospital. He was born in Joplin on May 6, 1930, to Charles and Georgia (Benbow) Barber. His mother was a telephone operator for many years and his father worked for the railroad.
During his childhood, they lived in El Dorado Springs. He delivered newspapers as a boy and, as a teenager he worked in a local drugstore. In high school he participated in all sports, played in the band, was in Boy Scouts and was a member of the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
Bill attended the University of Missouri, receiving two degrees in Pre-Med and Electrical Engineering. In between degrees, he fulfilled his ROTC obligations in the U.S. Air Force.
After college, he was employed as an engineer with Southwest Bell in Missouri. In the 60s, he was offered a job at an independent telephone company in Freeport, IL, as their chief engineer and rose to vice president/general manager. When the company was sold, he started his own successful consulting firm in telecommunications in Freeport, IL, and worked locally and in several states.
Bill continued to update his education in management and technology from several institutions, including both Universities of Kansas and Colorado.
In Freeport, IL, Bill was an active member of his church and in professional, social and civic organizations. He served on the city planning commission, taught adult classes at the local college and did a variety of volunteer work. He served on many boards, including president of the YMCA and was instrumental in building a new YM on the campus of Highland College Freeport.
Bill enjoyed cross-country skiing, fishing, doing colored glasswork, flying his airplane and he had a fascination with computers and technology. He and his wife, Eloise, traveled extensively to over 60 countries. Their dream venture was made in 2008 with a four and a half month cruise around the world.
He is survived by his wife, Eloise, of the home in Freeport, IL, six children and nine grandchildren. He will be remembered for his dedication in whatever he undertook, for his innovative ideas and his mentoring of others, his positive attitude and cheerful humor.
A memorial service will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 15, in the United Presbyterian Church in Freeport, IL. A memorial fund has been established in his name for the youth of his church.
