As the building filled with sad yet friendly faces, Autumn Barber tried her best to hold back tears as she read a letter to the media describing her husband’s fight against prostate cancer.
Standing in front of propped up photographs of her late husband at a Tempe Police substation Tuesday afternoon, Autumn described how her spouse, Det. Tim Barber, spent the last days of his life working to spread awareness about prostate cancer.
“Tim’s number one goal was to bring awareness to this terrible disease,” Autumn said. “While following Tim’s footsteps, I’ll continue to spread his words of wisdom.”
Barber, 42, died Saturday at Scottsdale Healthcare Shea Medical Center. The funeral service was held Wednesday morning at Chandler Christian Church, followed by the graveside service at Valley of the Sun Mortuary.
Barber was a Tempe Police officer for 10 years and was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2009. He went into remission after multiple treatments with chemotherapy and radiation, but the disease recurred in January.
Barber leaves behind his wife, Autumn, a 20-year-old daughter, Brittany, a pair of twins expected in December and a dog named Kaiser.
“Thank you to the media for allowing Tim to speak publicly about his important mission encouraging every man to be tested for prostate cancer by age 40,” Autumn said Tuesday.
After his diagnosis, Barber began advocating for men to get checked for prostate cancer through the Prostate On-site Project organization. He participated in charity walks and spoke at different colleges and men’s groups around the Valley.
Tempe Police detective Christine Connors, a close friend of Barber, said he was very active with the POP organization.
“Anytime he could mention it, he would just tell people, ‘Get tested,’” Connors said.
Throughout his campaign to spread prostate cancer awareness, Barber remained dedicated to his work and the people he was sworn to protect, Tempe Police Sgt. Dan Masters said.
Masters said he never missed a workday and would schedule chemotherapy procedures around his work.
“It was so important for him to make a difference in the lives of the victims of the cases that he was assigned,” Masters said. “His work ethic was just unparalleled.”
To those that knew Barber, he was a positive man who loved golf and his work. But nothing compared to the love for his wife and family as he would rush home every night to see them.
“He loved his wife, he loved spending time with her,” Connors said. “He loved driving really fast home. We carpooled together and it was our mission to get home as fast as possible so that way he can be with his family and I (could) be with mine.”
A fundraiser was held the Thursday before Barber died in order to raise money for his family’s mounting medical bills.
His family is still taking donations, which can be sent to the Tempe Police Foundation, P.O. Box 27661, Tempe, 85285. Donators should write “Tim Barber” on the memo line.
With her fists clinched tight holding the letter, Autumn’s tears began to run down her cheek as she powered through her words.
“Thank you to the department for their brotherhood and unwavering loyalty and support,” Autumn said. “Most importantly, thank you to our friends, known and unknown to us, the members of the community who have wrapped their arms around us in comfort during Tim’s illness and in the following days.”
Reach the reporter at sraymund@asu.edu
