Kenneth Max Barber

Kenneth Max Barber, age 89, passed from this life peacefully on Monday, April 27, 2026, at home under the care of St. Francis Hospice. He was born August 9,1936 in Westville, OK, to Paul Thomas Barber and Bertha Mae Neale Barber. He was raised and educated in Proctor and Westville but moved to Skiatook his senior year and graduated from Wildhorse School. He married Nancy Anne Nair April 23,1958. He enlisted in the Army on August 29,1958. They were stationed in the state of Washington for 2 years. They returned to Tulsa, Oklahoma where he worked for Smithco and learned how to weld. He was hired by American Airlines as a welder May 18,1964 and worked there until he retired on October 30,1993. They moved to Oologah in 1971 and were members of Collinsville Christian Church and later Talala Christian Church. Nancy died January 30,1995. 

He married Connie Jones on November 1, 1997 and moved to Wagoner, OK. They were members of the First Freewill Baptist Church in Pryor, Ok. Connie died April 14,2023 and he went to live with his daughter Diana in Claremore.He loved country music and played his guitar and sang with friends at many music parties. He also loved being outside. Hunting, fishing, gardening and yardwork were his favorite outdoor activities. He was very good at engineering a fix for whatever he couldn't move or lift or didn't have a part for. He was always ready to help a friend or neighbor, and he was never shy about asking for help if he needed it.

Kenneth was preceded in death by his parents Paul Thomas Barber and Bertha Mae Neale Barber. His siblings Leona Scism, Ruth Hamby, Maegene Guthrie, Dwayne Barber and Rana Testerman, wife Nancy, daughter Joy Anne Noel and wife Connie and stepson in law Dewey Peters.

 Kenneth is survived by his daughter Diana and her husband Rusty of the home, son Michael Barber of Bartlesville, granddaughter Jacqueline Novotny and husband Blayne of Glenpool, great granddaughter Meadow Novotny of Glenpool, step daughter Deana Peters of Wagoner, step son Wesley Jones and wife Debbie of Wagoner ,step grandchildren Dylan Peters and wife BreAnne of Tulsa, Grevan Jones and wife Christina and their children Addyson, Greyson and Ellison of Muskogee, Sara Corn and husband Robert of Wagoner, Jimmie Jones of Wagoner. One brother-in-law John Testerman and many nieces, nephews and friends.

Funeral services for Kenneth will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, May 1, 2026, in the Shipman's Funeral Home Chapel with Chaplain Bryan Davis officiating. Interment will take place at 10:00 a.m., Monday, May 4, 2026, in the Oakhill Cemetery in Oologah. A visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Thursday, April 30, 2026, at Shipman's Funeral Home in Pryor. To leave a message, please visit his guestbook at www.shipmansfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Shipman's Funeral & Cremation Service of Pryor.