Bob Barker Never Wanted To Remarry After His Wife's Death - Inside Their Love Story

Nov 16, 2021 by apost team

Bob Barker is an American television host and animal rights advocate. He is best known for being the host of the game show "The Price Is Right" from 1972 to 2007. From 1956 to 1975, he was the host of "Truth or Consequences." Barker retired from the entertainment industry in 2007 when he was 84 and celebrated over 50 years working on television.

Barker was born in Darrington, Washington, on December 12, 1923. His parents were Matilda and Byron Barker. The star grew up on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in Mission, South Dakota, and is one-eighth Sioux. He attended high school in Missouri and met his future wife, Dorothy Jo Gideon. 

Later, Barker attended Drury College, where he was a member of the Epsilon Beta chapter of Sigma Nu fraternity. He joined the United States Navy Reserve during World War II but never served on active duty. However, he was trained to be a fighter pilot. When the war was over, Barker returned to Drury College and graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor's in economics. 

It was while he was at Drury that Barker began his broadcasting career. He worked at the station KTTS-FM Radio. Following his graduation, Barker was a news announcer for WWPG 1340 AM in Palm Beach, Florida. In 1950, he and Dorothy Jo moved to Burbank, California, and Barker was given his own radio show called "The Bob Barker Show" which ran for six years. 

Dorothy Jo remained a beloved constant in Barker's life and always supported his career. The television host continues to remain devoted to his wife, even after she passed away in 1981 from lung cancer. Keep reading to learn more about this couple's love story.

Many people spend their entire lives searching for true love and a companion to share their lives with. The love story shared by beloved game show host Bob Barker and his late wife Dorothy Jo is an example of two people who found a love that not only lasted a lifetime but also continues even after death.

Long before Barker became a household name by crowning winners as the long-time host of the popular game show "The Price Is Right," he became a winner at the game of love. Barker's lifelong romance with Dorothy Jo began when he was only 15 years old. 

That is when he attended an Ella Fitzgerald concert with her on their very first date. Their relationship remained strong while Barker was away working as a Navy fighter pilot during World War II. The young lovebirds tied the knot in 1945 when they eloped after Barker's military service ended.

Barker credits Dorothy Jo with being a visionary and ahead of her time on several issues, including healthy eating and animal rights. He recounts that she gave up eating meat and stopped wearing fur long before those ideas gained popularity. His wife's interest in the welfare of animals led to Barker becoming a vegetarian as well. 

This is also why Barker is a vocal animal rights advocate. He has promoted animal rights as a guest star on several television programs such as "The Bold and the Beautiful" and "How I Met Your Mother." Barker also had a memorable appearance in the movie "Happy Gilmore."

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Dorothy Jo worked as a singer for commercials until her death from lung cancer at the age of 57. After 36 years of marriage to Dorothy Jo, Barker never remarried. In a 2007 television interview with "Good Morning America" quoted in The Daily Mail, he indicated that he never even considered remarriage, he said, "I never had any inclination to remarry. (Dorothy) was my wife." 

Barker shared this sentiment with his close friends as well. Another source close to him explained: "They were married 36 years and she was the love of his life. He never remarried. He and Dorothy Jo were together since age 15 and he told me, 'I just felt there should only ever be one Mrs. Bob Barker.'"

The couple chose to never have children, choosing instead to stay focused on their carers and each other. Dorothy Jo passed away at the age of 57 from lung cancer. A photo from 2017 shows Barker visiting her gravesite with flowers and paying tribute to her memory. 

Since 1999, Barker has had to face his own health challenges, including heart problems, strokes, and skin cancer. Sources say that his health is failing, and he has told acquaintances that he is ready to go so he can be reunited with his beloved Dorothy. Bob has gone so far as to plan out his funeral, and his name and birthdate are already on his tombstone.

Bob Barker's devotion to his late wife Dorothy Jo is a testament to the power of love to change lives for the better. Although it is devastating when a loved one dies, the memories of the joy shared while they were alive remain.

Did you watch "The Price Is Right" while Barker was the host? What do you think of his devotion to his wife? Let us know and be sure to send this along to your loved ones.