In Memory – Dr. David Barkman (PU DVM ’73)

March 8, 2024

The Purdue Veterinary Medicine community is saddened to learn of the passing of a member of the DVM Class of 1973, Dr. David Lyle Barkman, of Fayetteville, North Carolina. Dr. Barkman died January 16, 2024, at the age of 76.

A native of Rochester, Indiana, Dr. Barkman was raised on a farm where he learned the value of hard work and developed a strong sense of family. After earning his BS degree in the College of Agriculture at Purdue University, he enrolled in the College of Veterinary medicine and received his DVM Degree in 1973.

He is remembered for the passion he demonstrated in caring for pets and equally for their owners. After serving in the United States Air Force for two years at Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico, he moved his young family to Alabama for an internship at Auburn University. Then in 1976, the family moved to Fayetteville where he started working at Highland Animal Hospital. He helped care for thousands of four-legged family members and their owners for 48 years. Known for being warm, funny and always compassionate, Dr. Barkman lived out a passion and love for his job that inspired two sons and one grandson to follow in his footsteps.

Dr. Barkman treasured family times whether it was cheering for his grandkids at a game or taking everyone to the beach, where they built sandcastles and caught crabs. His competitive nature was reflected in his commitment to playing basketball with friends at church or in someone’s backyard or playing racquetball at a sports center.

Dr. Barkman also was active in his church where he sang in the choir, taught Sunday school and was willing to work alongside others to do any project necessary to help maintain the church or care for another church member. Additionally, he was a dedicated volunteer with Habitat for Humanity and other organizations. A lover of adventure, he traveled the world extensively accompanied by his wife Karen.

A memorial service was held at Haymount United Methodist Church January 20. In lieu of flowers, donations in Dr. Barkman’s memory may be made to Haymount United Methodist Church to continue his legacy in mission work.

Click here to view a complete obituary.

Writer(s): Kevin Doerr | pvmnews@purdue.edu

Recent Stories

“Paws Up” – brought to you by the PVM Wellness Committee

The Wellness Committee would like to extend a heartfelt Paws Up to Laurie Marsh, who is a supervisor for the Emergency Critical Care & Small Animal Reception team.

Purdue VBMA Club Hosts Picture-perfect Activity

When veterinary students in the Purdue Chapter of the Veterinary Business Management Association (VBMA) were looking for a new event to host as a student organization, an intriguing idea came to mind that was easy to “picture” as a perfect success! So the club set out to plan the activity in order to meet an important need of the club members while also providing a fun chance for the students to get keepsake images of their furry study buddies.

PVM Faculty Legends Honored at 25th Annual Healing Oasis Wellness Center Conference

The theme “Knowledge – Like a Precious Metal, is PRICELESS,” proved especially appropriate for the 25th anniversary of the annual Healing Oasis Wellness Center Conference spearheaded by a Purdue Veterinary Medicine alumnus, Dr. Pedro Rivera. That’s because the conference, held at the end of 2025 at the National University of Health Sciences in Lombard, Illinois, gave special recognition to legendary Purdue Veterinary Medicine educators Kathy Salisbury and Ron Hullinger.

How the Brain Recognizes What It’s Seen Before and Why It Matters for Autism Research

When you walk into a familiar place — your kitchen, a classroom, or your neighborhood — your brain instantly starts matching what you see with memories of past experiences. A new study from Purdue University reveals a key piece of how that recognition process works, and why it may be disrupted in conditions such as Fragile X syndrome, a leading inherited cause of autism.

“Paws Up” – brought to you by the PVM Wellness Committee

Today we are recognizing Chloe Morris, RVT, who is a veterinary technologist in Anesthesiology in the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital.

Partnership to make Purdue Veterinary Nursing Distance Learning program available to employees at more than 1,000 general practice veterinary hospitals

Already Purdue’s largest online program, the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Veterinary Nursing Distance Learning program is partnering with National Veterinary Associates General Practice to offer the VNDL program to technicians at NVA’s more than 1,000 general practice veterinary hospitals.

PVM Distinguished Professor Suresh Mittal to Speak at Purdue’s Westwood Lecture Series

The Westwood Lecture Series is part of Purdue President Mung Chiang’s efforts aimed at enhancing the intellectual vibrancy of the Purdue West Lafayette campus, and the next featured speaker is Purdue Veterinary Medicine’s Distinguished Professor of Virology, Dr. Suresh Mittal. His presentation entitled, “Universal Influenza Vaccine — An Aspiration or Reality?” is scheduled for January 28, and registration for the lecture is now open.

PVM Concludes 2024 with Recognition of Service Anniversaries and Award-winning Staff

As 2024 came to a close at Purdue University, the College of Veterinary Medicine continued a long-standing tradition of celebrating staff service anniversaries and recognizing staff and faculty accomplishments at the Staff Service Recognition Ceremony. Held in Lynn 1136 on Wednesday, December 18, the ceremony honored more than 70 PVM personnel.