Gerald Delbert Barton

Ancestors

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Biography

This biography was auto-generated by a GEDCOM import. It's a rough draft and needs to be edited.

Burial

Burial:

Date: 14 Jan 1992

Place: SPARKMAN/HILLCRE, Dallas, Dallas, TX

Ancestral File Number

Ancestral File Number: 2MMM-L2

Reference

Reference: 273

LDS Baptism

LDS Baptism:

Date: 15 Dec 1979

Place: Dallas, Dallas, TX

LDS Endowment

LDS Endowment:

Date: 19 Jun 1981

LDS Temple: PROVO

User ID

User ID: 5E31A66083351B4187C44A23D545FC188FA7

LDS Sealing Child

LDS Sealing Child:

Date: 19 Jun 1981

LDS Temple: PROVO

Note

Note: My Personal Story

Gerald Delbert Barton

As the father of three children, I begin writing my history at this time in my life and attempt to make a summary of important events that have happened. I was born in Rupert, Minidoka County, Idaho. February 4, 1917. My father John Barton was a farmer and my mother Willie Reed Legrand a person of great faith and compassion. They were both native of Missouri where they were married, moving to Rupert shortly thereafter. My father had the misfortune to develop a malignancy from which he died 11 November, 1918 at the age of twenty two leaving my mother a widow at age nineteen with two small children, myself and a younger sister, to care for. My childhood though lacking in a father’s leadership and guidance, was relatively carefree and uneventful due to the protective influence of a mother who sought to minimize the economic realities of that period. Under the circumstances I learned early the value of work. As I grew older, I took part in a variety of athletic events such as track and football, which, more often than not, had a successful outcome. It should be noted however, that swimming being largely self-taught, was definitely not one of the activities in which I excelled; merely staying afloat was an accomplishment in itself.

Prior to graduation from High School I experienced an event which, to me, illustrates the protection of divine providence in moments of adversity. Having planned an excursion to an adjoining town some nine miles distant two companions and I were on a motorcycle together when I received a strong impression that I should not continue the journey. With this prompting, I dismounted at a crossroads near my home and proceeded on foot to my destination. My companions continued on their separate way and both were killed in a tragic accident later that same evening. This, my first experience with the death of close friends, caused great mental anguish and also led to a firm conviction that the Lord had other work for me to do.

I first aspired to be a doctor at the age of sixteen, a goal from which I never deviated. Without the means to accomplish this goal I managed to sacrifice, the great depression of the 1930’s notwithstanding, to complete High School and with more courage than good sense enrolled in the University of Idaho. At that time I did not have the resources for essential travel and accordingly found it necessary to ride the railroad boxcars or, alternatively, to hitchhike at which I became quite proficient. I recall one such occasion near Pendleton Oregon, a longer but more heavily traveled route, when a car traveling at high speed stopped some distance away, backed up and the driver, a man generous proportions, asked if I could drive. When I replied that I could he introduced himself, gave his occupation as wrestler and said that he was due in Salt Lake City that evening. After admonishing me not to reduce speed he climbed into the back sear and was soon fast asleep. All went well until we encountered a dense blanket of fog when, to my great consternation the highway suddenly vanished resulting for a time in a rather bumpy ride. Fortunately this untoward event did not awaken the sleeping giant and we proceeded on our way without further adventure. We parted company later that day at a junction near my hometown as the car sped away into the distance.

After a year or two of this unconventional mode of travel I managed to acquire a used car - a model A Ford roadster - which provided reliable and more acceptable transportation over the one way distance to or from college of approximately six hundred miles.

Having raised two children with a combination of lave and hard work, my mother’s subsequent marriage to Jesse L. Faris was not only an occasion for rejoicing, but also seemed to fulfill the deepest needs and expectations of their relationship which endured throughout mortality.

By taking advantage of summer employment opportunities I w as able to pursue my educational goals without significant interruption, except for several months in which I worked as a chemist’s helper in a sugar factory near home. It was on such an occasion that I first met Beatrice Thelma Wood a young lady of promise, then only fifteen, but very mature for her age. Our courtship was interrupted periodically as I returned to the University to continue my studies, but we managed to see one another during summer vacations, holidays and the like. We were married September 17, 1939 by Bishop J. D. Hogan of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the home of her parents at Burley, Idaho. Our first daughter named Barbara Carol was born June 22, 1940 at Burley, Idaho and brought us great joy. She was likewise the pride and joy of grandparents I into whose care she was occasionally entrusted.

Upon graduation from college I found it expedient to teach in the High School at Soda Springs, Idaho for a period of two years and managed in the process to save a small sum from my modest salary. Our travel to the Burley area on weekends for a visit with relatives and resupply of basic commodities became almost routine.

Again without adequate means of support, o r even acceptance from medical school we embarked on the journey to Chicago which was to be our home for the next five years. This period of renewed austerity resulted in my wife going to work for a time and it was largely through her efforts that we were able to sustain ourselves. Although I met all the academic requirements, having excellent college credentials, the competition for admission to the University of Chicago School of Medicine to which I applied was intense and the outcome uncertain. It was not entirely by happenstance, therefore, that a favorite professor and faculty member for whom I had worked as a research assistant sponsored my application and I found myself in possession of the coveted letter of acceptance shortly thereafter. There followed several years of rigorous study leading to the much sought after degree of Doctor of Medicine with honor in April 1946. After completing a rotating internship at the University of Chicago Clinics and being duly accredited by the by the Illinois Board of Medical Examiners a career in the United States Public Health Service beckoned which was to last for some thirty-two years until the time of my retirement March1, 1981. During these years of active duty we were subject to a series of periodic transfers from one locality to another which seemed to come all too often. Thus it was that our middle daughter whom we named Diane Adrienne was born April 11, 1951 in Saint Louis, Missouri. She was and is a wonderfully talented and delightful person.

Our youngest daughter Marilyn Camille was born March 18, 1954 in Jacksonville, Florida. The doctor was ecstatic at having delivered a “red head” and we as parents were likewise overjoyed.

Again in one of many moves we were sent to Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland for further study leading to a Masters in Public Health degree in June, 1955 with all expenses paid much to my benefit and hopefully, that on of my sponsor the Public Health Service. Ten come additional years of service with periodic advancement in responsibility, rank, and changes in geographic location. Much of my service career was devoted to the prevention and control of infectious diseases and I was attached to the Center of Disease Control, CDC in Atlanta, Georgia for purposes of general supervision and record keeping. It was also my privilege to serve, for a time, as Acting Regional Health Director, an administrative position covering five southwestern states.

Having made our permanent home in Dallas I began with some degree of regularity to attend Church meetings with my wife, a lifetime member, and greatly admired the leadership of the Bishops I came to know. It was against this background that our home teacher introduced two outstanding young missionaries who came into our home to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ. What they said touched my heart and the Holy Spirit bore witness that the gospel is true. I asked to be baptized and this sacred ordinance was performed by John J. Chipman, truly a man of God, on December 15, 1979. I was ordained an elder by Bishop Jerry D., Tousa on July 12, 1980 and prepared to go to the temple. On June 19, 1981 in the Provo, Utah temple, my companion for life became my companion forever. Our children were sealed to us on that same occasion. The events of that day, sacred and beautiful stand out in my memory with great clarity. I shall always treasure that memory.

My ordination to the office of High Priest on May 16, 1982 was performed by President Larry Wayne Gibbons of the Dallas, Texas East Stake. It has been my good fortune during these years of learning to serve as Ward and later as stake Sunday School Councilor, Stake Sunday School President, High Council Member, Executive Secretary of the Stake, Councilor in the Bishopric, and most recently as a genealogy teacher. Each of these experiences has served to strengthen my testimony of the truthfulness and divinity of the gospel of Jesus Christ and of the Church. Other opportunities to serve will, no doubt, present themselves.

As the years have passed our three lovely daughters have each been married in the Temple - Idaho Falls, Logan, and Washington D.C. respectively - to active members of the church of whom we most heartily approve and lovingly accept. All three now have children of their own. Our seven grandchildren are the joy and delight of our lives and we are pleased to observe their continued growth in both temporal and spiritual matters.

The Lord finds many ways to test our faith. Such a time of testing came for me when in 1985 I experienced a serious illness requiring prolonged hospitalization. Members of the Church and my family stopped by my hospital room to express their love, concern and prayers in my behalf. This was a heartwarming experience and I feel certain contributed importantly to my recovery. In retrospect I have been informed by knowledgeable people that my recovery was indeed a miracle. As a result my faith and testimony have been strengthened immeasurably. Surely God’s mercy is boundless and I have been richly blessed all the days of my life.

Honors: Alpha Omega Alpha Medical honor Society

Residency John Hopkins University.

Data Changed

Data Changed:

Date: 4 Jul 2013

Time: 11:45:58

Prior to import, this record was last changed 11:45:58 4 Jul 2013.

Marriage

User ID: F58B86D655AB3F41804FA86FA870030360F8

Husband: Gerald Delbert Barton

Wife: Beatrice Thelma Wood

Child: Barbara Carol Barton

Child: Diane Adrienne Barton

Child: Marilyn Camille Barton

Marriage:

Date: 17 Sep 1939

Place: Burley, Cassia, ID

LDS Sealing Spouse:

Date: 19 Jun 1981

LDS Temple: PROVO

Note: They were married by their Bishop in the home of Jesse Elmer Wood, the brides father.

Sources

• Source: S1 Title: GEDCOM File : williams.ged Author: Diane Williams Note: 9355 Chalkstone Way CONT Reno, NV 89523 CONT dianewms@yahoo.com

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Diane Williams for creating WikiTree profile Barton-2176 through the import of wiki.ged on Jul 5, 2013. Click to the Changes page for the details of edits by Diane and others.