George "Art" Barber

George Arthur “Art” Barber
December 6, 1929 – February 27, 2021

George Arthur “Art” Barber, 91, went to be with the Lord on February 27, 2021. Art was born December 6, 1929 in Chicago, Illinois. He was the older son of George Herbert Barber and Bertha Marie Barber and the brother of Richard. Art graduated from Morgan Park High School  and attended the University of Arizona where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Geological Engineering in 1951. In 1966, he was awarded an honorary degree from U of A in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the field. Art was a member of the ATO fraternity and met his wife, Elvira, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Tucson. They were married on May 31, 1952 and lived in Grants, New Mexico where Art launched his more than 30-year career with the Anaconda Minerals Company. 

In 1953, Art and Elvira moved back to Tucson where they raised their four children, Tim (1953), Jennifer (1954), Susan (1958), and Patrick (1963). In his position as Anaconda’s Vice President of Mineral Exploration and Geology, Art managed the company’s precious metals program and led global exploration programs in Australia, Brazil, Chile, Indonesia, Mexico, Norway, Peru and the U.S. The family moved to Littleton, Colorado in 1977 where Art was Vice President/Minerals Advisor for Anaconda/Atlantic Richfield Company. In 1985, he became the President of DOSECC – Deep Observation and Sampling of the Earth’s Continental Crust which was based in Washington, D.C. This international project, sponsored by the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Geological Survey, focused on drilling the deepest scientific hole in the U.S. continental crust and resulted in many international collaborations including in Germany, Sweden and the USSR. Art and Elvira returned to Littleton where Art served as a minerals consultant for many years.

Art’s love for geology was shared with all. He never missed an opportunity to describe a random rock or to point out various rock strata on family car trips. Those trips were memorable and included travels to Kino Bay, Mexico, to Chicago to visit his family, and to Oberlin, Kansas to be with Elvira’s parents on their farm.  

Art shared with Elvira his love of family and faith. During their 69-year marriage, he also shared his love of travel with Elvira, as they explored the world together. They doted on their children and grandchildren and took pride in all of their accomplishments, no matter how big or small. Art and Elvira have been members of St. Philip Lutheran Church since they moved to Littleton. At the church, Art was active in Bible studies, the annual men’s retreat, and the Friday morning men’s breakfasts. In honor of baby David, their grandson who died as a infant due to a heart condition, Art actively promoted the American Heart Association. He also was honored by the community for his leadership in increasing participation in local blood drives sponsored by the Colorado Children’s Hospital. Art was committed to sustaining connections with extended family and friends all over the world. Through regular correspondence, he would check in on others and encouraged extended family members to never lose touch with one another.

Art was an avid collector of stamps (particularly Irish stamps), coins, airline playing cards and geological books and maps, which he displayed in one of his favorite places – his home office.  He loved to play cribbage and loved for his children to play cribbage with him -  which led to annual competitive Christmas cribbage tournaments with all included. Art loved the Chicago Cubs and the Colorado Rockies, the team he and Elvira watched religiously on TV.

Art is proceeded in death by his parents, George Herbert Barber and Bertha Marie Barber, his brother, Richard Barber, and his grandson, David Barber. He is survived by his wife, Elvira Marie Barber; his children, Timothy Barber and wife Nina, Jennifer Watson and husband Thomas, daughter Susan Barber, and Patrick Barber and wife Kelly; and his grandchildren, Jeffrey Watson, Emily Barber, Joseph Barber, and Steven Barber. Art will be deeply missed by his family and his many friends.

Art’s memorial service will be held live and virtually at St. Philip Lutheran Church in Littleton, Colorado on Saturday, March 6 at 10 am.  

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In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to American Heart Association www.heart.org or to the Alzheimer's Association www.alz.org/donate in Art's name and memory. 

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