David Paul Barton

David P. Barton, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend to many, passed away in Arlington, VA on December 11, 2024. David dedicated his life to the pursuit of world peace and understanding. He will be remembered for his steadfast achievements, quick wit, nimble ability to play on words, excellent letter writing, and warm support of others.

Born on July 11, 1944 to Bernard and Tatiana (Gnoocheff) Barton in Washington D.C., David was raised in Silver Spring, MD, where he spent much of his youth playing tennis with his father, brother, and the Longbranch Lobbers. His family also spent two years in London (1950-52) while his father worked for the Marshall Plan. He graduated as class president from Montgomery Blair High School. He earned his B.A. and played tennis at Dartmouth College. After teaching French at Phillips Andover he earned a Master’s degree from the John Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.

David’s commitment to humanity was evident early in his career. He traveled to Vietnam and co-directed the American Friends (Quaker) Service Quang Ngai Rehabilitation Center from 1970-73, providing prostheses to civilians injured during the war. Afterwards, Amnesty International sponsored David to speak at public venues across the US and Europe. Later, at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) he conducted vital research on global disarmament and peace. Upon returning to Washington D.C., he brought his expertise to roles in national security and foreign policy. He spent over 17 years with the U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee where he played a key role in advancing the Chemical Weapons Treaty, and several more years for the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency and State Department.

In 2002, he led an investigation team and developed the final report for the Joint Inquiry of the House and Senate Intelligence Committees into terrorist events of 9/11/2001. From 2003-05 he worked on Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee policy and legislative matters related to 9/11 and led a bi-partisan team to achieve the intelligence reform legislation, adopted as public law in 2004. From 2006-07, he directed a National Academy of Public Administration project for Congress and the FBI to determine how well FBI intelligence work was being used by the intelligence community and state and local law enforcement.

After retiring from government service, David embraced teaching and mentoring. For 12 years, he coached the Yorktown High School’s boys ’tennis team and taught classes on national security, foreign, and intelligence policy at the GW Elliott School of International Affairs. He found both pursuits extremely rewarding.

David’s personal life was also rich and vibrant. He was an avid tennis player, a devoted Washington Capitals fan, and a gifted storyteller who delighted in making others laugh. He adored being a father and grandfather, making his morning coffee, cooking crepes, and walking Beatrice, the family dog. He spoke three languages and cherished his travels and time living abroad. David deeply believed in the Quaker tenant that every person carries an inner light and goodness inside of them and he lived by this principle, treating everyone he met with kindness and respect and working to bring more peace to the world.

David was a loving husband of 30 years to Melanie Barton, an adoring father to his children Maria Barton, Nicholas Barton, Alex Eroe (Katie York Eroe) and a wonderful grandfather to Jack Barton Spinelli. Preceded in death by his parents, he is survived by his wife and children, his grandson, his brother Peter Barton, sister-in-law Jane Startz Barton, sister-in-law Janet Kritzer (Stuart Kritzer) and family, nephew Jesse Barton (Mazal Ben-Moshe), nieces Katie Barton (Matt Harty) and Zoe Barton (Jordan Dally), and his first wife (Jane Couser Barton).

Service Times/ Special Messages:

A service will be held at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Arlington, VA on January 11, 2025 at 11 am.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) or Doctors Without Borders, organizations David felt strongly about.