Jerry Lee Barton, 79, of Springfield MO passed into the presence of Jesus on April 4, 2022 after a lengthy illness. He was born in Neodesha KS on February 3, 1943 to Ivel Henry Barton, Sr. and Dorothy Irene (Dutrow) Barton, the second of seven children. He is a descendant of the Barton, Compton, Criger, and Hensley families, early settlers of Greene and Webster Counties in MO and the Dutrow, Herb, Miller, and Barnhart families, early settlers of Wilson and Harvey Counties in KS.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his oldest brother Ivel Jr. (“Spike”), infant brother Jimmy Ray, brother-in-law Duane (“Bud”) Fuller and brother-in-law Charles (“Charlie”) Williams.
Jerry is survived by his loving wife Glenda of the home; their two daughters Kristina Marie Barton (Ron Baker), Portland OR and Stephanie Anne Joplin (Mike), Willard MO; grandsons Austin and Parker Joplin; brothers Jack (Linda), Derby KS, Mark (Shana), Sacramento CA; sisters Kathryn Fuller, Oklahoma City OK, Carolyn Rathgeber (Bill), Edmond OK; mother-in-law Ruby Gilmore, Springfield MO; sisters-in-law Diani Williams, Battlefield MO, Joyce Hannah Barton Watson, Trion GA; and brother-in-law Gary Gilmore (Jacque), Walnut Grove MO; and many relatives and friends.
Jerry was raised in Fredonia KS where his family regularly attended the First Baptist church. He was active in Fredonia’s summer and public school activities graduating with FHS’s class of 1961. He served in the U.S. Navy Reserves from 1961-67 including two years of active duty as a Hospital Corpsman petty officer (HM3) with the Medical Detachment at the U.S. Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island SC.
On Memorial Day in 1958, he met Glenda Fern Gilmore from Springfield MO. A still small voice told him that she “was the girl he was going to marry”! They became good friends and married January 18, 1964 at Calvary Temple Assembly of God in Springfield MO and settled in Pittsburg KS. Soon after they dedicated their lives to Jesus Christ and have endeavored to be faithful followers since. Glenda has certainly been a God-sent “special angel” for the past 58 years especially during Jerry’s illness in recent years.
Jerry attended Pittsburg (KS) State College in 1964-66; earned a BA in Bible/Theology from Central Bible College in 1969; a BS in Management from Southwest Missouri State College (now MSU) in 1971; and an MBA from Drury College (now DU) in 1986.
He retired from the Assemblies of God National Office on May 1, 2010 after serving 43 years in various staff and leadership positions in public relations, information systems, and treasury functions. He also worked in information systems at Jacuzzi Bros. in Little Rock AR in 1977-78, taught as a part-time accounting instructor at Evangel University from 1986-94, served on the Assemblies of God Credit Union’s supervisory committee from 1987-96. He was active in various layman capacities in Assemblies of God churches in Pittsburg KS, Benton AR, Elwood MO, and Central Assembly of God, Springfield MO for many years. It must be said that whatever Jerry accomplished in life, it was done with Glenda’s help and by the grace of God.
Jerry loved his daughters Kristi and Stephanie as special gifts from God. He tried hard to be a loving father and mentor to them from childhood to their adult years. Life would have certainly been boring without them even to this day! He enjoyed attending their church and school activities such as summer softball, youth music and hand-bell choirs, Springfield’s Hillcrest High School marching band and Highlander drum and bugle corps performances in the Cotton Bowl parade, Cherry Blossom Festival parade, Epcot Center, and various local and state-wide parades, events, and contests. He also loved his grandsons Austin and Parker very much. He enjoyed spending time helping them with their reading, playing games, learning sports, and building Star Wars and Kinex models, shooting pool, and attending their Willard school music and athletic events as long as his later health allowed.
He enjoyed family gatherings, church activities, family genealogy research, old books and records, auctions, flea markets, small college football, St. Louis Cardinal’s baseball, and a wide variety of music and performers.
For several years he was a supporter of the Springfield Regional Opera, the Friends of the Library, the Air and Military Museum of the Ozarks (AMMO), the Ozarks Genealogical Society, Ozarks Public Television, Springfield/Greene County Historical Society, and several local social ministries/agencies.
To God be the glory; great things he has done! In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Convoy of Hope.