Not everyone can say that they have found a career that they truly love or suits them, but at 74 years old, Norman Barker does not look towards retirement. Born in Rhode Island, Barker, now a resident of the Heritage of Green Hills, has traveled to a good portion of the world’s countries as part of his job as a mechanical engineer.
‘It’s how I’m designed and what I’m supposed to be doing,’ Barker said about his job. ‘I like to do it.’ While he no longer travels as much for work, he says, if offered he would still travel overseas for the right job.
‘If I get the right kind of assignment, I’d still go,’ he told Berks-Mont Newspapers.
For someone who did not initially want to attend college, his Bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering has led him to find himself a world traveler. The seasoned professional has worked in over 30 countries and guesses he has passed through around 50.
In 1961, Barker was on the USS George Washington submarine and throughout his life, he has enjoyed a ‘variety of crazy experiences.’
From first hand experience in countries from Egypt, Romania, Hungry, to Russia (just to name a few), Barker has a much different view of the world than most Americans.
‘I’ve been exposed to all these places,’ he said, recounting that while in Johannesburg during the riots in the 1990s, he felt ‘comfortable’ as he was ‘protected in that experience.’
The engineer worked with Gilbert and Associates for 27 years and credits the training and contacts he acquired through them as a strong base for his independent work.
‘The training I got was huge exposure,’ he said. ‘When I went on my own I had those contacts.’
Barker now is in his fourteenth year with Energy Solutions where he oversees the safety quality to ‘keep us safe from hazardous material’ that the company handles.
From his work and travels, Barker saw that the media often is a one-sided take to a story that may be much more complicated and that he can ‘relate to [the news] differently.’
Barker shares that people need both sides of the extreme to determine a mind set on the issue. Experiences in different countries has enlightened Barker to the cultural differences of the world. He has since given lectures regarding the subject, explaining the differences between hot and cold cultures and how to adapt to country’s cultural norms.
‘There are so many beautiful places all over the world. Turkey is one of my favorite places,’ he said. ‘I’d rather go there than Greece.’
His spouse of 54 years, Donna (whom he married Aug. 27, 1960) is a retired high school teacher.
‘She didn’t want to travel,’ Barker said. Together, they had four children (one of whom passed away at the age of five) and resided for most of their lives in Lancaster to raise their family. Downsizing from their Lancaster home to The Heritage of Green Hills has proved beneficial for their lifestyle.
‘We’re comfortable here,’ Barker said. The couple moved into the independent living home five years ago. ‘There’s the flexibility of living… you can be who you are and do what you want to do.’
Barker continues to make his way around the world, taking each of his 10 grandchildren (ages eight to 22) on an individualized trip they get to personally design.
‘The 15-year-old wanted to go to Paris and London,’ he said. Together they traveled to Europe, going on a Segway tour through Paris and a ‘Jack the Ripper’ tour in London. From each trip, Barker gets a new perspective into his grandchildren’s interests and enjoys the one-on-one quality time together. ‘I try to get them [to plan a trip] between ages eight to 14 to see what they like. Barker has taken his grandson to Scotland, where they did a castle tour, another grandchild to Florida for baseball’s spring training and, of course, ‘the girls like to go to New York City.’
Barker thoroughly enjoys the trips and time with his grandchildren, stating that each trip is ‘a good insight’ to who they are as people. This is one man who is driven to keep on living life.
