John D. Barton

Obituary of John Barton John "Sarge" Barton took his last motorcycle ride on September 25 and joined his friends and family in God's embrace on September 26. John had elected to be a tissue donor and in death was still helping others. John also wanted to help his fellow veterans and was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. His friend and fellow Vietnam Veteran, Kenneth Weidle invited him to ride in the demonstration organized by Rolling Thunder®, Inc. to raise awareness for our prisoners of war and missing in action on Memorial Day weekend 2002. That fall of 2002, John joined Rolling Thunder®, Inc. New Jersey Chapter 2 to help his fellow Veterans in need. John served the chapter as Chairman of the Board and Vice President. John recently moved to Leesburg, and transfered to Florida Chapter 7. John graduated from Neshaminy High School in 1968 and was drafted into the US Army shortly after. John served in Vietnam in 1969 and 1970 with the 44th Medical Brigade. In Vietnam he met Kenneth Weidle and they have been brothers ever since. John went on to serve nearly 25 years in the Army and retired as a Sergeant First Class. John did want to be a teacher but college was not in the cards for him, but in the Army he did realize his dream of teaching. He encouraged and taught thousands of soldiers the skills they needed to survive in the Army and become better soldiers and better people. In the Army John became a Truck Master and was an instructor for large vehicle operation. After the Army, John went over the road as a commercial truck driver and later a driving instructor at Shore Tractor Trailer and Superior Tractor Trailer schools. When teaching at Shore in 1999, he met his third wife Kathleen. Together they drove over the road for CR England before settling down in Browns Mills, NJ. John and Kathleen recently celebrated their 16th wedding anniversary. He retired in 2012 from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst as a driving instructor for a government contractor after nine years. John is survived by his wife Kathleen, his son John David Barton, Jr. and his son's mother and his first wife Ann, granddaughters, Crystal Rose Barton, Lillian Gray Barton, Laurel Snow Barton, and Jacqueline Joseph Barton, brothers Robert Barton and Kenneth Barton, nephews Christopher Barton and Steven Barton, step-sister Shirley Dooley Yard, step-brothers Wayne Dooley and Donald Dooley. He was preceded in death by his father Lewis Barton, mother Lillian and step-mother "Peggy" Margaret. John was blessed to have many friends from Rolling Thunder®, Inc., the military, through his various employments, and finally here in Leesburg. A graveside service will be held on Monday, October 10, 2016 at 9:30 a.m., at Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, Florida with Military Honors. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Rolling Thunder ®, Inc. Florida Chapter 7, 1039 N. Paul Dr. Inverness, FL 34453 or Rolling Thunder ®, Inc. New Jersey Chapter 2, PO Box 478 Forked River, NJ 08731.

John D. Barton

September 26, 2016