Douglas E. Barton

Douglas E. Barton

Douglas E. Barton passed away on May 5, 2011, after suffering a massive stroke; he died peacefully with his family at his side at St. Peter Hospital. Doug was born on May 6, 1959, in Portland, Oregon, to Don and Daisy Barton; he was the youngest of five children. He attended elementary school and middle school in Eugene. In 1973, his family relocated to Tumwater where he would finish his education at Tumwater High School.
In his younger years, Doug played baseball and was a huge fan of the Boston Red Sox. This passion for the Red Sox and the game of baseball would never subside. Doug played softball until he had children and then started coaching Little League baseball right up through Babe Ruth. His teams always had the best equipment and, it goes without saying, they were always called the "Red Sox." When he bought his property in East Olympia, it was time for his dream of "Little Fenway" to become a reality; he then built a regulation Little League field in his back yard, complete with the "Green Monster" in left field.
Doug worked a few different jobs before getting into the telecommunications industry. After working for a couple of companies in Seattle, he decided that it was time for him to go out on his own. Olympic Telephone was formed and has grown into one of our local business icons; you can see their sponsor signs in the outfield of almost any baseball field in town.
Doug married Amy Krenik in 1989 and they had two children, Mike and Jadie; they later divorced and in 1994, he married Cindy Renfroe, becoming father to Gentry Mills, and a couple years later Colton was born.
Traveling was an integral part of Doug's life as long as there was sunshine at the destination. He loved to visit Arizona; Napa, California; Las Vegas; and Long Beach, WA, with his friends and family. He also was known to be a little bit of a collector and had one of the first eBay accounts in the area.
Doug is survived by his wife, Cindy; four children, Mike, Jadie, Colton, and Gentry; grandson, Jacob; mother, Daisy; brothers, Keith and Don Jr.; sisters, Donna and Suzie; several cousins, nieces, and nephews; and many, many friends. Doug was preceded in death by his father, Don.
A memorial service will be held on Sunday, May 15, 2011, at 2:00 p.m. in the PAC at Tumwater High School, with a reception to follow.
Please consider a donation to the "Doug Barton Baseball Scholarship" fund at Olympia Federal Savings and Loan.
The family would like to thank the Thurston County 911 Dispatchers, Sheriff's Deputies, and EMS responders, along with the caring staff at St. Peter Hospital.
To leave memories of Doug or condolences for the family, go to www.FuneralAlternatives.org. Arrangements are with Funeral Alternatives of Washington 360-753-1065.