Ryan Barker

Ryan Barker was born June 1, 1985, in Portland, Oregon. He passed away August 22, 2025, at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital at the age of 40, eight months after being diagnosed with stage 4 Gastroesophageal (GE) Junction Carcinoma.

He grew up in Goleta, graduated from Dos Pueblos High School and attended Santa Barbara City College. He then moved to Hawaii with friends for a couple years before moving back to California. He lived in Solvang, Santa Ynez, and San Luis Obispo working in the wine industry and later attended Allan Hancock College where he studied to be a sommelier. In the last three years of his life, he moved back to Goleta and worked at Trader Joes where he met his soul mate and love of his life, Jordan Maldonado.

Ryan was preceded in death by his mother, Cindy (Thompson) Doherty, his aunt Peggy Thompson, his grandparents, Paul and Margaret Thompson, Stan and Anne Barker, and step grandfather Mickey Shanabarger. He is survived by his sister, Rene (Barker) her husband, Nico and son, Xavi Garcia; his brother, Evan, and his wife, Lindsey Doherty; his father, Paul, and stepmother, Robin Barker; his stepfather, David and wife, Cindy Doherty; and his step grandparents, Judy and Butch Ribet and Lily Shanabarger. He also leaves behind many aunts, uncles, and cousins from his blended family.

A memorial service and celebration of Ryan’s life is planned for Saturday, September 6, 2025, 10:00 a.m. at Grace Gathering, 400 Puente Dr., Goleta, CA 93117. A reception will be held following the service. Ryan’s ashes will later be interned with his mothers in the Sunrise Urn Garden at Santa Barbara Cemetery.

The family is deeply grateful to Dr. Campos and hospital doctors, nurses, Sansum Palliative Care Team and staff at the Ridley-Tree Cancer Foundation and Cottage Hospital, whose expertise and compassion gave us the gift of precious time with Ryan. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara, 601 West Junipero Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93105.