Celebration of Life
English Funeral Chapel-
-
-
Email Details
-
1700 N. Spokane St.
Post Falls, ID 83854
Richard Barton
February 8, 1940 — February 9, 2017
Richard Barton
Richard ‘Dick’ Barton, 77
Richard Vernon Barton passed away peacefully at home on Feb. 9, 2017, one day after his 77th birthday. He was born in Spokane, Wash., Feb. 8, 1940, to Vernon and Delia Barton. He grew up in Coeur d’Alene and Hayden Lake.
He always said the happiest years of his childhood were spent at Hayden Lake Elementary School. His father was killed when he was a young boy and Dick was later blessed with a wonderful and loving stepfather, Joe Oaks. His family moved to Longview, Wash., where Dick graduated from high school. Upon graduation, he immediately moved back to Coeur d’Alene and the family followed him shortly after.
Dick completed the electronics course at North Idaho College and then moved to San Jose, Calif. He worked as a component engineer in the Silicon Valley for 40 years. He loved his work because electronics changed so rapidly and kept his active mind busy. He kept studying, always growing and learning with every new advancement and technology. He helped design and build the headsets the NASA astronauts used when they went to the moon. He was known as “the finest component engineer in the entire Silicon Valley.” Steve Jobs tried to recruit him to work for Apple on three separate occasions. He was able to travel the world in his work but enjoyed the Far East the most. Hong Kong was his favorite city and he liked bartering with the good natured Chinese. Dick was a very humble man and he never bragged about his many achievements, but his family has always had reason to be more than proud of him.
Dick married Kay Totten while in college. They had three children together: Susan Montelongo of Austin, Texas, Cherron Barton of Post Falls, and Rick Barton of Post Falls. Dick had never played baseball, but he coached his girls through many championship seasons. When Dick didn’t know how to do something, he got a book and learned. His teams were the only teams that used hand signals like they do in the major leagues. He loved his family and was ALWAYS an example of honesty, love and fairness. There were no grey areas in Dick’s life. He was honest beyond reproach. Anyone who truly knew Dick, loved him. It is just that simple. You could not know him and not love him. He wasn’t so awfully tall, but he cast a giant shadow.
After 23 years of marriage, Dick and Kay divorced. Seven years later he married Carol Hand, a childhood friend from Hayden Lake. They have been so happily married the past 26 years. There biggest argument was which one loved the other the most. Dick had a progressive disease and instead of the past four years being sad, they lived in happiness and humor, enjoying every day they had together. They often said they were on a lifetime honeymoon. Dick was still joking three days before he died. He always tried to make it easier for those who loved him. Carol has three children: John Corbin/Colleen of Seattle, Wash., Mary Nelson/Todd of Post Falls and Anne Martin of Post Falls. The step-children loved and respected him very much.
Upon retirement, Dick and Carol moved back to Idaho where they built a handicap accessible home in Post Falls with an apartment to care for Carol’s daughter. Not one to remain idle, Dick continued his side business of manufacturing and building the “Strand Gauge” which is an electronic instrument that measures thickness coating on metal cans. He had customers all over the world.
Dick has six grandchildren, one great-granddaughter and seven step-grandchildren. He was a wonderful grandfather and was proud of each one of them. His 3-year-old great-granddaughter came to visit the last week of his life and filled him with joy. His life was so well lived and he has left us all with a legacy of love, pride and honor.
Dick is also survived by a loving family of three sisters and one brother, also many special nieces and nephews. His sisters are Ann Myers of Hayden, JoDee Gancayco/Danny of Coeur d’Alene and Frankie/Bill Enos of Morgan Hill, Calif. His brother, John Oaks/Bernie of Coeur d’Alene. His stepfather always said that with a big brother like Dick, the rest just naturally fell into place. Carol’s sisters and brothers loved him equally as much and felt that he was one of theirs.
Richard will be missed beyond belief. He cared for everyone and has left a hole in our hearts that cannot be filled. He was the best of the best.
A celebration of his life will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17, 2017, at English Funeral Chapel, 1700 N. Spokane St., Post Falls.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Richard Barton, please visit our flower store.
Guestbook
Visits: 64
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
