Stephen F. Barton

BARTON, Lt. Col. Stephen F.
of Portage, Michigan Passed away Friday morning, May 4, 2012. Stephen was born July 6, 1925 in Beaver, Utah the son of the late Stephen and Lelia Farnsworth Barton. He went into the U.S. Marine Corps in 1943; and in 1950 joined the U.S. Army and decided to make the military his career until he retired in 1970 with the rank of Lt. Colonel. As a Marine he served in the Asiatic-Pacific Area from July 1944 to February 1946. During that time period he participated in action against Iwo Jima from 19 Feb. 1945 to 27 Mar. 1945. He received his honorable discharge as a sergeant from the United States Marine Corps in March of 1946. Upon discharge he enrolled at Utah State Agricultural College to pursue a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Engineering Technology, and minor in Military Science. After graduation he was commissioned into the United States Army as a Second Lieutenant. His first tour of duty was in the Korean Conflict from July 1951 to July 1953. He served 15 more years stationed around the world with his family before his final tour of duty in Viet Nam in September 1968. Returning from Viet Nam he retired from the military in September 1969. He proudly served the United States of America for 22 years. After his retirement he worked at Western Michigan University in the Engineering Dept., the Physical Plant as Management of Academic Building Custodial, and finally as Associate Director of the Physical Plant until he resigned. Stephen was a member of St. Catherine of Siena. He was an avid sportsman, and enjoyed bowling and golf. He loved to travel in his motor home, and spent winters in California and Arizona. On April 30, 1946 he was united in marriage to his loving wife of over 60 years, the former Sarah Bennett, who survives. Also surviving are 5 children, Lt. Col. Stephen Lt. Col. Pamela Barton, Michael Adele Barton, Deborah James Crocker, Sarah Gregg McChesney, John Denise Barton; 16 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren; a brother-in-law: 2 sister-in-laws: and several nieces and nephews. Stephen was preceded in death by a son, Penn; a brother, Penn; and 2 sisters, Margaret Harris and Esther Jaka. A memorial service to celebrate Stephen's life will be held at 2:00 Saturday, May 12 at the Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Portage Chapel, 411 E. Centre. Private family interment will be in Mt. Ever-Rest Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to Habitat for Humanity or the charity of your choice.