River Barker

River Barker of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, was born to Sam and Katie Barker on August 29, 2003. He fought a courageous mental health battle but lost his life on August 12, 2025.

River grew up in Carlisle and graduated with the Harrisburg Academy Class of 2021, where he found his passion in the school’s art program. He went on to earn his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration from New York City’s Parsons School of Design, graduating in 2025 with a senior portfolio that proudly showcased his talent, dedication, and unique artistic vision. River lived as his true self, and he wanted others to do the same.

River combined education with his love of travel by spending a semester abroad in New Zealand and enjoying side trips to Australia and Japan along the way. He capped off his graduation celebration with travel to Italy and Greece.

River enjoyed singing, making music, and attending concerts like Twenty One Pilots, Bring Me the Horizon, Sleep Token, and Pierce the Veil. Additionally, River’s art passions extended to traditional fine art skills, visual art creation, and digital illustration. An animal lover at heart, he treasured time with his cats—Mittens, Ebony, and Jethro—and volunteered with the Furry Friends Network cat shelter. He also served as an animal shelter intern in Dillsburg, PA, and volunteered on farms in Pennsylvania and Arizona.

To know River was to know a spontaneous adventurer. In the heart of New York City, River got the hang of urban living, enjoyed a hot bowl of ramen, and learned to sing screamo style. While “free-spirited” fit River to a T, he was dedicated to the causes he cared about.

River is survived by his loving parents Katie and Sam Barker, siblings Jay and Christy, his grandparents Betty and Jerry Hilton, aunts and uncles, Linda Dishner, Robert and Myrl Quillen, Anne Barker, Tom Lerace, Holly and Jim Capobianco, cousins Andrew, Linnea and Colin Capobianco, and friends who will miss him dearly.

A Celebration of Life will be held on August 18, 2025, at Hoffman Funeral Home & Crematory, at 2020 W. Trindle Road, Carlisle, Pennsylvania 17013 at 4:00 pm. The family will receive friends from 2:00 pm until the time of the service. The service will also be live streamed for those who cannot attend in person at 4:00 pm: please come back to this page to tune into the service at that time.

In honor of River, the family encourages those struggling with mental health to seek help and support by contacting the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988, or by visiting their website at 988lifeline.org. Donations in River’s name can be made to Furry Friends Network at furryfriendsnetwork.org.