Wil Barber, 50, a former Army infantry captain and a director of human resources at Daniel Woodhead Co. in Northbrook, died Saturday of a heart attack at home in Winnetka. Outside his career at the north suburban electronic components manufacturer, Mr. Barber devoted a great deal of time to his hobby, model trains, with the centerpiece of his collection an elaborately landscaped model track in his back yard. “I’m a huge gardener and he was a big train guy, so we sort of combined our hobbies,” said his wife of 30 years, Janet. The son of an army colonel, Mr. Barber was born in Georgia. After graduating from high school in California, Mr. Barber went to the University of California at Berkeley, where he met his future wife. After graduation in 1971, Mr. Barber was commissioned into the service. Mr. Barber was honorably discharged in 1977 and moved to the Chicago area, to take a post with Container Corp. Ten years later he joined Daniel Woodhead, where he soon found that the human resources position fit his character, his wife said. “He was totally jovial,” Mrs. Barber said. “He was always happy, always had a wonderful thing to say.” In addition to his wife, Mr. Barber is survived by his mother, Irene Barber; and two daughters, Elizabeth Charlton and Shelley Taylor. Visitation will be from 4 to 9 p.m. Tuesday in Donnellan Family Funeral Home, 10045 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Church of the Holy Comforter, 222 Kenilworth Ave., Kenilworth.
