Richard Gilbert Barton Jr. (1952-2018) Richard Gilbert Barton Jr., 65, passed away
February 9, 2018 at his winter home in Gilbert, AZ.
Rick and the
love of his life Kathleen Barton married in Salt Lake City, UT on June
10, 1972 and were later sealed in the Salt Lake Temple. He leaves behind
5 children: Dr. Brandon, Tyler (Rochelle), Megan, Josh (Dianna) and
Camille Hugill (Thomas) as well as 11 grandchildren who he enjoyed more
than anything in his life. His selfless dedication to supporting his
posterity both financially and spiritually was fathomless as he split
time between his family in both Arizona and San Diego.
Rick was
most happy working on his many home improvement projects having built
his family's Salt Lake City home himself and continued later in life
designing innovative creations to improve the life of his friends and
family. We will all miss learning from the Master RGB.
Born May
22, 1952 in Salt Lake City, UT to Richard Gilbert Barton Sr. and
Marjorie Yvonne Barton. Preceded in death by his brother James (1951),
Rick is survived by his 7 siblings: Diana Webb (Randy), Dave (Janice),
Dr. Jeff (Debbie), Laurie Pinegar (Joseph), Holly Hurst (Bruce), Chris
(Earlene), Becca Adams (Bob) as well as sister-in-law Joyce Muhlestein
(Ray) and brother-in-law Dr. Gordon V. White.
A man of Rick's
influence and vitality is not often encountered. He continued his high
school athletic successes as a team captain all-state football player at
the University of Utah on the Utes football team. Rick's work ethic was
something to marvel at as he would later build his own business in 1979,
successfully operating it for 19 years before selling it in 1997. His
life's journey would take him to the beaches of San Diego where he
enjoyed many years with his family. He continued there professionally as
a foregone expert in his industry, fittingly working right up to his
very last day of life.
Rick mentored countless professional
colleagues, silently supported innumerable friends and family
emotionally and financially, engaged vividly with everyone in his path
and left a memorable impression everywhere with his unique character.
Funeral services will be held Friday, February 16 at 10:00 a.m. at
the LDS Church Freestone Park Ward, 230 N Val Vista Drive, Gilbert AZ,
85234. Friends are welcome to attend a viewing Thursday, February 15 at
Bunker Family Funeral Home, 33 N Centennial Way, Mesa, AZ 85201 from 6-8
p.m. and Friday at the church from 9:00 to 9:45 a.m. prior to the
services. Interment will be at San Tan Memorial Gardens at Schnepf Farms
following the morning service.
Funeral Home Bunker
Family Funerals & Cremation- Garden Chapel 33 North Centennial Way
Mesa, AZ 85201 (480) 964-8686
Published in Salt Lake Tribune
on Feb. 15, 2018
Notes from Diana Webb Outlining Funeral
We were so blessed to be in Long Beach
when we heard the news about Rick. It is only a six-hour drive to
Phoenix, and the weather was great! We stayed with my sister Holly
in Gilbert along with an incredible number of others. She had people
on every bed and every couch… It was actually a good idea to be
smashed all in together. Becca and Holly and their spouses handled
the flowers and other details, and Kathy, Rick’s wife, worked with
her kids to put together an obituary and the funeral program. Each
of her sons spoke – Brandon, Tyler, and Josh, and so did her
daughter Megan, and two of my brothers – Chris and Dave. Cami just
wanted to sit by her mom and hold her hand during the service. Becca
told me she has been sleeping with her mom during these first few
hard days. Two of Rick’s good friends also participated, Sam
Bracken, and Bruce Edwards, the father of his daughter-in-law.
Rochelle (daughter-in-law) sang, accompanied by Brandon, his son, on
the viola and it was very moving.
Megan, the oldest
daughter, paid a tender tribute to her father. She and Jill were the
same age.
Tyler was the first brother to speak.. He said
that he already had his talk prepared, but he heard a voice say,
“Talk to the grandchildren…” So, he decided to rewrite his talk for
the grandchildren. He showed different pictures of him as a sibling,
as a football player, as a groom, and as a grandpa. It was powerful!
Josh, the third son spoke next. He talked about what a great
support his father had been to him during his life. Josh played
basketball at Palomar Junior College. He was a walk-on after his
mission, but he made the team. Travis Browne was a sophomore. The
other players were standoffish to this “new guy on the team” - all
but Travis. This was spring of 2001. They were the only ones lived
on the coast, and they became friends. Travis was in and out of his
mother’s house, and he went back and forth, wondering whether or not
he wanted to live with his mom. He had lost his father at an early
age. He hung out at Josh’s house a lot, and he slept on their couch.
Rick was a father figure. He and Josh hung out together for a few
years. He was attracted to the family culture of the Church. He was
really, really, ready. One day he asked if he could take the
missionary discussions. He was taught by the missionaries in their
home during June of 2002. He asked Rick to baptize him. He got
married in the temple to his first wife. They had a couple of kids,
but they separated after a time. They now live in Riverside.
He started doing martial arts at 27, although he had had no formal
training. He needed to make a 100% change in his lifestyle in order
to do this. He had to get to and from the training sessions and to
pick up his kids, but he didn’t have a car at that time. Rick let
him drive his red truck back and forth to the training sessions, and
to pick up his children. Travis is now an American mixed martial
artist who competes as a heavyweight in the Ultimate Fighting
Championship (UFC). Rick used to travel around the country to see
Travis fight. He never missed a one. He recently married Ronda
Rousey in Hawaii and flew Josh out to the ceremony. She is an
American professional wrestler, actress, and former mixed martial
artist. (I had no idea who these people are in Ultimate Fighting,
but I am pretty out of it on the things that happen in the world
today. If it is not at least 2,000 years old, I know very little
about it.) Erin told me that Ronda Rousey was an answer on Jeopardy
last week. I guess that’s how you know you are “really famous.” I
got up the courage to ask her if I could take my picture with her,
since my daughter would love it. She was very sweet about it. They
were both there at the wedding to honor Rick, and support Josh.
Travis was very tender with Rick’s inconsolable granddaughter who
was really having a hard time. He held her on his lap almost the
whole time. If I had to choose one word to describe Ronda Rousey, it
would be SWEET. She probably does not want her fans to heat that! It
is hard to believe she is a world champion fighter.
When his
wife asked, “What do you want to for your birthday (which is in
July)?” Travis said, “Thanksgiving at the Barton house.” I see what
he means! We loved spending last Thanksgiving with the Rick Bartons.
Brandon, the oldest son, and a neurologist living in
Chicago, spoke about what happened to his father physiologically. He
said that he had enough notice to seat himself on the floor
gradually so as not to harm his new hip. He said that there was no
trauma. Rick was probably very surprised to see the bright light!
Chris and Dave both gave awesome talks. Chris talked about what
a positive influence Rick had been in his life. He talked straight
with him, and he didn’t mince words. He said, “He kept me from
punching a lot of holes in the wall! He told me to give myself
credit, and don’t sell myself short so much. He made me believe in
myself.
Dave talked about the shenanigans he and Rick took
part in as kids. Then he quoted something that my mom wrote. I
really lost it then. This was my life!
“The hardships and
heartaches have made me a better person. I try daily to learn what
the Lord would have me learn. You see, I'd rather become worthy to
walk in his presence than be beautiful, socially prominent, or
famous. I have often wondered if I would have reached the depth of
commitment in any other way. Does it really matter what we suffer if
we qualify to live with him? Pray for me; don't pray for my
suffering to be less, but that I may endure to the end regardless of
what is required.”
“One of my prayers is that my contribution
to the eternal lives of those who serve me, family, friends, and
fellow Church members, will be that the services they give me, in
love, with faithful repetition, sometimes with impatience, will
prove to be a part of their eternal growth.”
Sam Bracken paid
a nice tribute to his lifelong friend. He told the story of catching
Rick as he fell from a ladder while fixing the roof in his gazebo,
and said, “He has spent the next 20 years catching me.” He said that
Rick was the big brother he never had. He said he was there ready to
help him whenever he needed wisdom, counsel, or just someone to
listen. He loved him without judgment. I agree. Rick never judged.
The dedication of the grave was offered by Bruce Edwards,
Rochelle’s father. (Rochelle is Tyler’s wife.) He is a gifted
interior decorator, and he has provided beautiful décor in many of
the Lord’s temples. Knowing this, I told him that I think of him
every time I go to the temple. He said, “That’s not who you should
be think of…”
We were all grieving in our own different
ways. Many of us just sat with each other and shared memories and
ate the treats that were constantly paraded before our eyes. In my
book, chocolate is as good as liquor at drowning your sorrows. I
found that blondies work well also. One of Holly’s friends brought
over a plate of warm blondies and I proceeded to eat seven in a row.
Others decided to get tattoos in Rick’s honor. The most important
thing was that we were all TOGETHER in this. We all supported each
other. When I heard about Rick, my first thought was about Kathy.
How would she survive by herself? As I saw how her children rallied
around her, my worries evaporated. She is in good hands. She has
inner strength.
One of the highlights of the weekend was
getting to visit with Kathy’s niece, Melanie Bills, who is the nurse
in the Philadelphia mission. They are the same age. Her brother,
Randy White, played football with Rick and told him about his
beautiful “aunt.” After they met, he never looked at another girl.
They were joined at the hip for the rest of their lives. Melanie and
I used to work at Castleton’s in the Junior Department. We had tons
of fun together… We would pick out our favorite outfits at full
price and would be the first to find out when they went on
clearance. We were extremely well-dressed in those days!! We had
much to discuss as we sat together wearing our missionary tags! She
and her husband only have a few weeks left in their mission. He was
unable to come because he is the Vehicle Coordinator and it was Zone
Conference time when all the cars need to be inspected. I love
talking to people who have known me for over fifty years!
We
all met at Holly and Bruce’s home after the funeral. We visited and
bonded. Dave brought all the old Barton family home movies from the
big pile of 8mm spools that mom had. Most of them were about us as
kids, but there were a few of mom doing acrobatics in front of the
1246 E 2nd South home.
Remembering Garret Fox
Garrett Reilly Fox
1991 - 2014 | Obituary
June 17, 1991 - Sept 5, 2014
Last Friday,
September 5, 2014, the sun lost a little of its brightness when
Garrett Fox slipped unexpectedly from this mortal existence into
the arms of his Savior. The world may not have noticed this
amazing loss but those who knew Garrett felt the world shudder
and stumble at his loss. Garrett was the rare boy who made
lifelong friends with almost everyone he came to know. His
influence was far-reaching and real and was something he did not
realize because it came to him so naturally. Our hearts have
been torn out with his passing but are healing with the memories
of his joyous, outgoing and loving personality. Those of us who
knew him are among the luckiest of people. Garrett served selflessly on two of
life's most important missions, God and country. He served and
loved the people of Brazil as an LDS missionary, and at the time
of his passing was serving in the US Army and, only two weeks
ago, won the Soldier of the Month Award at Fort Polk. Garrett is survived by his loving and grateful parents, Laurie
Barton Fox and Randy Fox (Kris); by his adoring sisters, Lindsay
Hardcastle (JI), Heather Flannery (Jerry), Caitlin Pruitt
(Austin) and Hayley Fox; Step-Sisters Amber Chavez (Javier) and
Courtnee Rosevear (Spencer); by his grandfather, Frank Fox, his
grandmother, Katherine Hekking; and by cousins, aunts and uncles
too numerous to mention; and by nieces and nephews who loved and
adored him. Preceding him in death were his older sister, Taysha
Fox, and his cousin, Brynn Barton. For those who wish to pay their
respects a viewing will be held Friday, September 12, 2014 from
6:00 to 8:00 PM at McDougal Funeral Home, 4330 S Redwood Road,
Taylorsville, Utah. Funeral services will be held Saturday,
September 13, 2014 at 11:00 AM at the Herriman Utah South Stake
Center, 14550 S Juniper Crest, Herriman, Utah. A viewing will be
held prior to the service from 9:30 to 10:45 AM. Interment will
be at Salt Lake City Cemetery.
9 Brad Barton
31
11 Heather Fox
29
11 Brandi Workman 10
15 Rochelle Adams 28
17 Garrett Fox 23
25 Laurie Fox
55
26 Mackenzie
Hurst
18
Genealogy
Twins Run in the Family! Who are these guys?
Click Picture to find out!!!
New Picture of relatives!
Standing from Left to Right
Upper Row: William Bell, John Jr., and James
Next Row: Peter and Isaac
Sitting: Joseph, John Barton and Elizabeth Bell
Bottom Row: Hyrum and Bertha