- Date Of Birth: December 6, 1929
- Date Of Death: February 27, 2021
- State: Colorado
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 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.
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.
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.
