William Donald Barton
William Don Barton, 93, of Springfield departed this life, surrounded by his daughters in his home, during the early morning hours of November 26, 2011, after a brief battle with cancer.
Don was born on August 7, 1918 in Peace Valley, Missouri to Zach and Una Barton. The oldest of four children, Don spent his early years working with his father. After graduation from high school, he joined the Army where he met the love of his life, Frances, and they were married for 56 years, until her death in 2000.
Don did a variety of things in his early years to earn a living, including a motion picture operator for a traveling show, owner/operator of a radio/TV repair business in West Plains, driving a truck for Frisco, but for the majority of his life he owned and operated Springfield Mobile Homes. He was the President of the Missouri Mobile Home Association, active in both the National Mobile Manufacturing Association, and the North Springfield Betterment Association. Due to his involvement in the Missouri Mobile Home Association, he learned to fly and flew his small plane all over the United States as their representative. Don said many times, “I never had a job I didn’t enjoy.”
Upon retiring from the mobile home business, he and Fran traveled all over the world, from Hong Kong and China to Australia and London.
After the death of his wife Frances, he was fortunate enough to connect with a childhood friend, Ethel Thompson, whom he married in 2002. They spent several years together before her death in 2009.
Don was preceded in death by his wife Frances, two brothers, Walter Lee Barton and Orville Barton, a granddaughter, Rebecca Snead, and his second wife, Ethel Thompson Barton.
He is survived by his three daughters, Judy Wacker and husband Paul, Jana Barton, and Jenny Mohan and husband Jim, all of Springfield; one sister, Dorothy Cranston of Springfield; seven grandchildren, Nikki Wallar, Jamie Gregory, Mandy Dinnell, Abby Mathis, Mollie Brunworth, Meagan Mohan, Maggie Mohan; seven great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, November 29, 2011 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at Greenlawn North with services Wednesday at 10:00 am at the funeral home and internment in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens with military honors.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Salvation Army.