Tributes for

Barton, Robert Waddell

Robert Waddell Barton or "Bob" to all, passed away peacefully into eternal life on December 20, 2021, at the age of 86. Bob was born in Tonkawa, Oklahoma, to Jack and Josephine Barton at a temporary stop allowing the family to use grazing land with plentiful water for their sheep and cattle. Bob was the baby of the family, growing up at Bartonsite, the home built by his grandparents, Joseph James and Mary Harlan Barton, West Texas pioneers. Bob was the last of the Barton's to grow up in the home and the Barton House is now part of the National Ranching Heritage Museum at Texas Tech University. Bob graduated from Abernathy High School in 1952 and in 1953 joined the Air Force, where he was stationed in Libya. After his service, he returned to Amarillo, Texas, where he met Laverna Christian. Bob and Laverna were married in 1956 and divorced in 1972. They lived in the "Draw House" near the family home until 1962 when they moved to join some of Laverna's family in Torrance, California. Bob began working in the Transportation Department of the Los Angeles Times in 1962, then transferred to its Costa Mesa plant in 1968. He worked at The Times for 28 years. Bob met his new love, Theresa, or "Penny", and they married in 1976. His love of golf led him to retirement at 55 and a move to their home near the golf course in Hidden Valley Lake, California. Rumor has it that he golfed daily and joined in many card games at the clubhouse. Bob was preceded in death by his wife, Penny, his daughter Karla Olds, his parents, and brothers and sisters. Bob is survived by his blended family: daughters Candace Rice (Robert) of Costa Mesa, CA, Jo Beth Montoya (Gabriel) of Kettle Falls, WA, and Pebble Cunningham (Clarence) of Noblesville, IN; sons, Brent Barton (Catherine) of Copperopolis, CA and Gerry Getty (Maria) of Costa Rica; and 15 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Those wishing to make memorial gifts may do so to The National Ranching Heritage Center in memory of Robert Waddell Barton.obert Waddell Barton or "Bob" to all, passed away peacefully into eternal life on December 20, 2021, at the age of 86. Bob was born in Tonkawa, Oklahoma, to Jack and Josephine Barton at a temporary stop allowing the family to use grazing land with plentiful water for their sheep and cattle. Bob was the baby of the family, growing up at Bartonsite, the home built by his grandparents, Joseph James and Mary Harlan Barton, West Texas pioneers. Bob was the last of the Barton's to grow up in the home and the Barton House is now part of the National Ranching Heritage Museum at Texas Tech University. Bob graduated from Abernathy High School in 1952 and in 1953 joined the Air Force, where he was stationed in Libya. After his service, he returned to Amarillo, Texas, where he met Laverna Christian. Bob and Laverna were married in 1956 and divorced in 1972. They lived in the "Draw House" near the family home until 1962 when they moved to join some of Laverna's family in Torrance, California. Bob began working in the Transportation Department of the Los Angeles Times in 1962, then transferred to its Costa Mesa plant in 1968. He worked at The Times for 28 years. Bob met his new love, Theresa, or "Penny", and they married in 1976. His love of golf led him to retirement at 55 and a move to their home near the golf course in Hidden Valley Lake, California. Rumor has it that he golfed daily and joined in many card games at the clubhouse. Bob was preceded in death by his wife, Penny, his daughter Karla Olds, his parents, and brothers and sisters. Bob is survived by his blended family: daughters Candace Rice (Robert) of Costa Mesa, CA, Jo Beth Montoya (Gabriel) of Kettle Falls, WA, and Pebble Cunningham (Clarence) of Noblesville, IN; sons, Brent Barton (Catherine) of Copperopolis, CA and Gerry Getty (Maria) of Costa Rica; and 15 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Those wishing to make memorial gifts may do so to The National Ranching Heritage Center in memory of Robert Waddell Barton.