Barber, N. Earl

N. Earl Barber, 85, of Cedar Rapids, died Thursday, March 31, 2011, at West Ridge Care Center. Services: 11 a.m. Monday, April 4, at Marion Christian Church, by the Rev. Peter Mitchell. Burial: Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery, Cedar Rapids. Visitation will be from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Cedar Rapids.            

Survivors include his wife, Virginia; three children, Linda (Leland) Osmundson of Alburnett, Eileen Barber-Goodwin of Cedar Rapids and Bruce Barber (special friend Chris Steuck) of Champaign, Ill.; four grandchildren, Charlyn (Blair) Lightfoot of Marion, Tony (Erika) Osmundson of Ames, Todd (Allison) Barber of Fishers, Ind., and Gina Barber of Indianapolis; and two great-grandchildren, Maxwell Lightfoot of Marion and Cade Osmundson of Ames.

Also surviving are sister and brother-in-law, Jeanne and Jim Carter of Cedar Rapids; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Eleanor Roby and Nelda Cypra; a brother, Marlin Barber; brother-in-law, Earl Cypra; son-in-law, David R. Goodwin; and a great-grandson, Noah Osmundson.

Earl was born Feb. 5, 1926, the son of George and Olive (Epley) Barber in Urbana. He graduated from Urbana High School. Earl served with the U.S. Army during World War II. On Nov. 23, 1950, he married Virginia Emmons at Marion Christian Church. Earl was employed at Link Belt/FMC for 40 years.

Earl was a member of Mount. Herman Lodge No. 263 AF&AM, the Cedar Rapids Consistory and El Kahir Shrine. He was past master of Mount Hermon Lodge and formerly served as secretary of the lodge.

Earl was also a member of the Cedar Rapids Toastmasters Club and the Elks Club. Earl was inducted in 1997 to Cedar Rapids Jefferson High School Booster Club Hall of Fame. He was a former Cedar Rapids Legion Baseball managerial staff member and former State of Iowa American Legion Baseball committeeman.

Earl was a huge baseball fan and especially an avid Cubs fan and Iowa Hawkeye sports fan. He enjoyed wintering at his home in Apache Junction, Ariz. Earl loved cribbage and puzzles and mostly adored spending time with his family and friends.

Memorials may be directed to Jefferson High School Booster Club, 1243 20th St. SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404; American Cancer Society, 4081 First Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402; Mount Herman Masonic Lodge 263 Scholarship Fund, 210 Sixth St. NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402; or sent to 3754 North Marion Rd., Alburnett, IA 52202.

Please sign the online guest book for Earl at  under obituaries.