Tragically, his wife Gideon passed away from cancer in 1981, after 36 years of marriage. Barker shared with ABC News, “I never had any inclination to remarry. She was my wife.” Nevertheless, Barker eventually found love again with Nancy Burnet, his partner of 40 years.
Burnet speaks fondly of Barker, and right before his 99th birthday in December, she shared a surprising revelation about his health. Despite his advanced age, Barker takes only one medication—for his thyroid.
“He’s going to be 99, and he takes one prescription medication, and that’s for his thyroid,” Burnet disclosed. She humorously added, “He’s in very good health for his age, and his humor is still in good shape. He’s had a very charmed life.”
However, this doesn’t mean Barker hasn’t faced medical emergencies and health scares over the years. More than two decades ago, he underwent surgery to correct a partially blocked artery and reduce the risk of stroke. In 2002, he suffered a stroke and subsequently had prostate surgery. He has also dealt with back issues and mild skin cancer.
