Harry Sewell Barton, Jr.

Harry Sewell Barton, Jr., age 89, peacefully passed away on Monday, July 15, 2024, in his home in Fairfax, VA surrounded by his family. Harry was born in Brooklyn, New York and was the beloved only child of Harry and Edna Barton. He attended YMCA Camp Becket in the Berkshire Mountains of Massachusetts for eight consecutive summers from age 8-15 and the lessons that he learned there shaped his entire life. He was a lifelong learner and graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School at the age of 16. He continued his education at Worcester Polytechnic Institute and graduated in 1955 with a degree in mechanical engineering. He loved America and volunteered to be an Army officer working with the Signal Corps in Philadelphia, where he met his beautiful wife and faithful partner of 67 years, Patricia Kernodle. Harry completed his two years with the army as a 1st Lieutenant and then took a sales position with the Linde Corporation. After this one-year stint with Linde, he found his life’s calling, to be a trusted financial advisor for families and businesses as a representative with Connecticut General Life Insurance company. He started as a life insurance salesman but soon added financial planning and wealth management to his career portfolio and he took great pride in being awarded both the Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) and Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) designations. While his company went through the usual mergers, he essentially remained with the same company for over 60 years, finishing his career with Lincoln Financial. He was one of the longest tenured employees in the history of this company. He was equally faithful, devoted to and dearly loved his family and friends, clients, co-workers and the many basketball players that he coached over a 40-year period as a Braddock Road Youth Club coach, long after his own children were grown and no longer playing. In 1996, Fairfax County created a special Harry S. Barton Coaching Award to annually recognize coaches who shared Harry’s passion for teaching life lessons while coaching young people and this award will perpetually honor Harry’s contributions to coaching and the community. His career record was 680 wins and 240 losses. Harry was an amazing husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, advisor, teacher and friend. Harry and Patricia have been members of Pender United Methodist Church for 34 years. He was the cornerstone of the Barton family and will be forever missed and remembered by his wife, Patricia, his children, Doug (Tammara), Russell (Shandelle, dec.), Gloria (Glenn) and his grandchildren, Rebecca, Bryce, Brett, Alexa, Whitney, Taylor, Grant, Grace, Griffin and several great grandchildren. He lived his entire life in the service of others and was a true patriot and friend to many. His favorite quote was, “If it is to be, it is up to ME” and he was an advocate and teacher of personal responsibility. Rest in peace in the arms of your Lord Jesus, Dad. We love you and we will miss you, but we know that you finished your race well and that you have heard, “Well done thou good and faithful servant. Enter into your rest.” We know that we will see you again. In our hearts, there will never be anyone like Harry S. Barton, Jr., truly a masterpiece and unmatched gift from Heaven.