Donald Wayne Barton

Donald Wayne Barton, born on September 11, 1945, passed away peacefully on September 21, 2025 at 80 years old.

Don is survived by his beloved daughters, Catherine and Anna Barton, and his sister Pamela Barton. He will be missed by his nieces and nephews, their children, his oldest friends, and his newest neighbors. He is preceded in death by his wife Helen Barton (née Evans).

He was born in Houston, Texas, the youngest child of Clarence Ernest Barton and Mary Simon Barton. It quickly became clear that Don had a unique mind - witty and smart, but also quiet and contemplative. In 1966 he graduated from the University of Houston, where he majored in American History because he liked a certain professor’s classes, and later studied library science because it interested him. At 26 years old he was drafted, and was eventually stationed in Italy, where he spent his free time exploring the town of Livorno or acting in theatre on base.

In 1975, Don settled in Washington D.C., where he would live for the next four decades. There he worked and met his wife Helen, who he wed in 1983. He had a 30 year career with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters before retiring in 2015. His colleagues at the Teamsters respected him for his thorough and reliable knowledge. While continuing work in D.C., Don and Helen moved to Alexandria, Virginia and raised their two girls.

After retirement, Don moved to Philadelphia, where he immediately felt at home. In no time, he was a familiar face and friendly fixture in his neighborhood. Folks regularly commented on his Texan accent, his height, and his hat. His neighbors remember him as kind, intelligent, and generous, even slower-moving with his cane in later years.

Don had a lifelong love of words - literature, poetry, and scripts. He spent many hours of his life wandering parks, libraries, and art museums until his legs would no longer allow it. He read, watched, and enjoyed anything from Ezra Pound to Cool Runnings, Shakespeare to Le Samourai. He owned countless, countless books, and had a particular love of poetry. He raised his daughters with these same values as they related to steadfast individuality, creativity, and kindheartedness. As a father, Don was dedicated and reassuring. Catherine and Anna always said that if anyone needed a father figure, they could share theirs. He was always happy to oblige.

Friends, family, and newcomers are invited to a Celebration of Life at The Donohue Funeral Home, 8401 West Chester Pike, Upper Darby, PA on Friday, October 10, 2025 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM followed by his funeral service at 12:00 PM.