Donald Arthur "Donnie" Barkey entered into the presence of his Lord and Savior on July 26, 2026, at the age of 87.

Born on January 26, 1939, in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Don remained a proud son of Bethlehem for more than eight decades. It was there that he was raised, built lifelong friendships, married his beloved wife, discovered and practiced his faith, devoted himself to pharmacy, raised his family, and became the man so many came to know and love.

In 2020, following the loss of his beloved wife, Carole, Don left the city he had always called home and moved to Manhattan, Kansas, to be cared for by his family. Though he deeply missed Bethlehem, he embraced this new chapter as a Kansan with faith and resilience and quickly built another community of cherished friends and family.

Though small in stature, Don lived a remarkably tall life. His life was defined by a strong sense of devotion to the commitments he made—to God, to his family, to his work, and to the countless people whose lives he touched along the way.

Following graduation from Liberty High School and Temple University School of Pharmacy, he joined the family business at Barkey's Pharmacy before later serving faithfully at Allentown General Hospital and Rite Aid. He was known for his dedication, his reliability, and the genuine care he showed every person who came to his counter. Whether in Pennsylvania or Kansas, Don had a remarkable gift for turning acquaintances into lifelong friends.

Don's Christian faith shaped every part of his life. He was a devoted member of Ebenezer Bible Fellowship Church and later Calvary Baptist Church, where he sang in the choir, participated in men's Bible studies, and faithfully served for many years. He loved God's Word and had an extraordinary ability to recall and recite Scripture. His love of music was another lifelong expression of that faith. As a boy, Donnie learned to play an accordion that seemed bigger than he was before later mastering the organ. Monday morning hymn sings at Via Christi Village became one of the highlights of his week as he introduced favorite hymns, quoted Scripture, and sang alongside friends.

Don was wonderfully playful. He enthusiastically participated in church skits and workplace events, loved a good practical joke, and never lost his delight in making others laugh. Family and friends will forever remember the ridiculous hats he proudly wore to dinner and events at Via Christi.

Donald was preceded in death by his beloved wife of more than fifty years, Carole Louise (Christman) Barkey; his parents, Theodore Roosevelt Barkey and Edna Mae (Drummond) Barkey; his sister, Vivian Hippensteal; and his brother, Theodore Barkey.

He is survived by his daughter, Karen Smothers and her husband, John; his son, David Quincey; his daughter-in-law, Kari; his grandsons, Joshua Smothers and his wife, Madison, and Noah Smothers and his wife, Lauren; along with many nieces, nephews, extended family members, treasured friends, former customers, and countless others who were fortunate enough to know Donnie.

Don's legacy is measured by the example he set. He taught his family that a meaningful life is built by honoring your commitments, finding reasons to laugh, and trusting God through life's unexpected turns. His devotion to his faith, his family, his work, and the people he loved became the foundation upon which he built his life.

Don lived an ordinary life extraordinarily well. His family hopes to honor his memory by living with that same devotion, kindness, faithfulness, humor, and joy.

A visitation with family will be held at 10a.m. on Saturday, August 8, 2026, at Calvary Baptist Church with a celebration of Don's life to follow at 11am.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Calvary Baptist Church, 5300 Green Pond Road, Easton, PA 18045.

The family extends its heartfelt gratitude to the staff and friends at Via Christi Village, the exceptional team in the Intensive Care Unit at The University of Kansas Health System, and the many family members, friends, neighbors, caregivers, and healthcare professionals whose kindness, friendship, and compassionate care enriched Don's life and brought comfort to him and our family.