Leo Barber
Leo Wallace “Red” Barber was born September 15, 1918 in rural Custer County, Oklahoma, to Clyde Elmer and Ruby Gant Barber.
He passed away March 9, 2016. As a young teen during the depression, Leo joined thousands of young people who hopped freight trains to California to find work. Some of his stories were published in a documentary by Errol Uys, “Riding the Rails, Teenagers on the Move During the Great Depression.” Leo looked back on those days as an adventure and a good education— “the school of hard knocks.” Leo learned the glass trade in answer to his own newspaper ad, “Young man needs work.” From there he launched his 43-year career installing glass.
During World War II he worked on construction of three government installations: Tinker, Douglas and Burns Flat. After the war he started his own glass shop in his home garage and eventually owned glass shops in Oklahoma City and Wichita, Kansas under the name of Barber’s Glass & Mfg. Co. His business grew to be the largest independent glass dealer west of the Mississippi in the 1960’s - 70’s.
Having only completed school in western Oklahoma through the 8th grade, many who knew Leo would say he was a brilliant man. In 1956, Leo invented and patented the Sliding Back Glass for use in oilfield equipment. Shortly after he developed and patented the Sliding Back Glass for pickups and other vehicles. These windows were manufactured in Oklahoma City and shipped worldwide.
In 1990, Leo held the title of the first “Mr. Route 66 of Oklahoma.” He penned, “These Were My Kicks on Route 66” and was published in Memories on Route 66 – 100th Anniversary book. Leo enjoyed a hobby of collecting and restoring antique cars. He particularly enjoyed assembling antique cars from parts collected from his travels on the backroads.
As a businessman, Leo was active in the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, Oklahoma City Glass Dealers Association (past president), Oklahoma Inventors’ Congress, Lions Club of Oklahoma, National & Oklahoma Horseless Carriage Clubs of America, MidAmerica Old Time Automobile Association, and National Hobo Foundation (Britt, Iowa).
Leo was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Gladys Barber and second wife, Alice Barber, two brothers, William Boyd Barber and Robert Dwen Barber, daughter, Betty O’Nevins, grandsons, Robin and Gregory Kelso and Michael Jon Bevins, great-grandchildren, Carter and Lucy Bevins.
Leo is survived by his brother, Clyde Merle Barber and his wife Norma, Edmond OK, his loving daughters, Billye Stein and husband Jerry, Ponca City OK, and Beverley Bevins and husband Michael, Oklahoma City, grandchildren, Debbie Skaggs, Tammye Rogers and husband, Bill, Perkins, OK, Tim Stein and wife Wanda, Ponca City, Todd Bevins and wife Kim, Edmond, OK, Dr. Micah Bevins and wife Kimberly, Broken Arrow, OK, great-grandchildren, Chace Vance, Stillwater, OK, Blake Dawes, Edmond, OK, Courtney, Jeremy and Hunter Stein, Ponca City, OK, Garrett and Keller Bevins, Edmond, OK, Ella, Ty and Cash Bevins, Broken Arrow, OK, Forrest Rogers, Davis, CA, Isaiah Baca, Perkins, OK, great-great-granddaughter, Allye Bible, Stillwater, OK.
Leo is also survived by many nieces, a nephew, cousins and friends.
Family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 10, 2016 at Mercer Adams, 3925 N. Asbury, Bethany OK. A celebration of life will be held Friday, March 11, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. at Mercer Adams Chapel. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to The Children’s Center Rehabilitation Hospital, 6800 N.W. 39th Expressway, Bethany OK 73008 or Good Shepherd Hospice, 4350
Will Rogers Parkway, Suite 400, Oklahoma City OK 73108. To share a memory or condolence, visit www.mercer-adams.com.
(Paid obituary)