C. "Bob" Robert Barton

Bob, who was born April 9, 1926, in Evanston, Illinois, to C.M. Barton and Irene Gunther Barton, spent his early years in Grayslake, Illinois, attending Grayslake Elementary and graduating fifth in his class from Warren Township High School, class of 1944.

In 1943 Bob enlisted in the Naval Aviation Cadet Program and was called to active duty in 1944. His orders sent him to Missouri Valley College for training where he met his future bride, Marilynn McEntire. He was attending pre-flight training at St. Mary’s in Oakland, California, when the war ended, and he later joined the Naval Reserves where he served for more than four decades as an intelligence officer, retiring as an LCDR.

Following D-Day, Bob decided to enroll at the University of Missouri, along with his bride-to-be. In 1947, Bob and Marilynn had multiple reasons for celebration: baccalaureate and marriage.

The young couple settled in Grayslake near Bob’s parents. The following year they celebrated the arrival of their first child, Kenneth, who was followed two years later by their second son, James William. During this period Bob worked as a salesman for McKinney Steel.

In 1951, Bob, Marilynn and their two small children packed up and moved to Edinburg, Texas, where Bob was a partner and manager of Barton Motors and Farm Implements. Daughter Laura joined their brood in 1955. When Marilynn was stricken with polio in the summer of 1952, Bob worked tirelessly to help her recover, leaving work multiple times each day during that difficult year to provide physical therapy to his wife.

In 1957, following the death of Bob’s father, he sold their businesses and moved the family from the Texas valley to Kansas City, Marilynn’s hometown, where he started what would become a lengthy career in the insurance industry. He was an assistant manager of the Connecticut General office and subsequently moved to general management as assistant to the president of National Fidelity Life. He went on to become president and COO of Old Security Life Insurance Company and Old Security Casualty Insurance Company. He was also executive vice president and director of holdings for ISC Industries.

In the late ’70s, Bob partnered with Bob Mann to acquire Traders Mutual Fire Insurance Company, which they rebranded as Traders Insurance Company and managed together for more than two decades. When he sold his interests in Traders, Bob became a major shareholder in LDS Corporation, where he served as chairman of the board. During his business career he gained the designation of Charted Life Underwriter and Fellow of the Life Management Institute. He was very active in the Consumer Credit Insurance Association where he served on the board and held the position of chairman of the board.

Bob was active in numerous charitable organizations, serving as a longtime board member of Goodwill Industries. He remained on the Goodwill board for more than four decades, serving as treasurer and chairman of the board.

An avid golfer, Bob was a longtime member of both Mission Hills Country Club and Wolf Creek Golf Club. At age 85, Bob achieved his first and only hole-in-one on the greens of Mission Hills.

As a proud graduate of the University of Missouri, Bob was a dedicated Tiger fan, following the Mizzou sports teams with great enthusiasm.

Bob and Marilynn were devoted, longtime members of Colonial Presbyterian Church where they were active with the “K” Group, Encouragers and Primetimers. For many years Bob shared his lovely tenor voice in the choir. Over the course of 20 years, the couple hosted a weekly Bible study, which Bob had led the Friday before his death.

Bob Barton, who truly knew no strangers, will be remembered by many for his humor, vitality, sharp mind, engaging personality, loving nature and Indy 500 driving style. When Marilynn suffered the devastating effects of post-polio syndrome later in life, Bob devoted himself to her care for a decade. He did so with warmth, patience, love, unflagging optimism and good humor. He will also be remembered as a talented Do-It-Yourselfer, a man who could fix or build most anything and a devoted grandfather who traveled extensively with his five granddaughters when they were children.

Bob leaves behind his loving companion, Patti Weinrich-Davis; brother Dick Barton; son James; daughter Laura and her partner Judy Wilder; granddaughters Rachel Lauer and husband Jon, Corrie Prestridge and husband Steven, Bea Fuller and husband Ben, Cassidy Witt and husband Randy, and youngest granddaughter, Mary Barton. Along with his adoring granddaughters, Bob was immensely proud of his five great-grandchildren, Dustin, Payton, Hannah, Lily and Kinley, who were lucky to have him in their lives. He was predeceased by his parents, son Bob and wife Marilynn.

The family would like to offer up sincere gratitude to the cadre of devoted women who — though not blood relatives — became like family to Bob and Marilynn over the past six years. Particularly, we wish to thank Marie Gelzunas, who loved and cared for Bob and Marilynn as if they were her own parents.

A memorial service will be held June 4, at 1:00 p.m., at Colonial Presbyterian Church, 9500 Wornall Road, Kansas City, Missouri 64114, followed by a reception. There will be a private ceremony at Mt. Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home after the reception.