Marion "Darlene" Barker

Marion “Darlene” Barker, 81, of Marshalltown, Iowa, passed away late Tuesday, July 15, 2025 at Westbrook Acres in Gladbrook.

Per the wishes of Darlene and her family, cremation rites have been accorded. Memorial services will take place on Monday, July 28, 2025 beginning at 11:00 A.M. at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown, Iowa. A visitation for family and friends will be held one hour prior to services. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Darlene’s name may be directed to the Animal Rescue League of Marshalltown. For additional information or to send a condolence to the family please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234.

Born Marion Darlene Cochran on August 20, 1943 in Salem, Arkansas, she was the daughter of Roy Edward and Myrtle Doris (Fuller) Cochran. Darlene grew up having eight siblings and attended school in Salem. She graduated from Salem High School in 1961.

In 1963, Darlene was united in marriage to William Lee Cornelius. From this union, they had one daughter Wendy. The two remained together for a few years before separating. On May 17, 1968 she was united in marriage to Charles “Chuck” Barker. From their union came her son Don. Darlene worked for Swift in Marshalltown, Iowa and later would become JBS. She spent 28 years with the company by the time of her retirement. In her free time, she took part participating in T.O.P.S. groups in Marshalltown. She loved to be outside. She took great pride in having a green thumb. Darlene was known to have very well-manicured flower gardens every year as well as tending to vegetable gardens. She took extreme pride in her family and was constantly involved with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren’s lives. Additionally, she had a soft spot for cats and really any other animal that she had the opportunity to come across and love.

Those left to cherish her memory are her two children: Wendy Cornelius of West Des Moines and Don (Molly) Barker of Conrad; stepchildren: Willy Barker, Charlene Burns, Collette Boswell, Corinna Arp, Paulette Millang and Chad Barker; grandchildren: Sara (Ray) Bowers of Mesa, AZ, Samantha Barker of Corpus Christi, TX, Gabe Barker of Marble Falls, TX and Aiden Barker of Conrad along with her step-grandchildren, Madalyn and Collin Schweinebart; two great-grandchildren: Jude and Liam Bowers, both of Mesa, AZ; and two siblings: Bonnie (Lavaughn) Zwanzigger and Jerry Cochran.

Darlene is preceded in death by her husband, Charles; her companion, Roger Osgood; her parents Roy and Myrtle Cochran; and her siblings, Lucille Fuller, Roy Cochran Jr., Russell Cochran, Ruby Fuller, Jack Cochran and Gerald Cochran.