Althea Milford Barton

1930 - 2018

Althea Milford Barton, 88, of Charlotte, NC died peacefully at Southminster, her home since 2008, on Sunday, October 21, 2018 after a long struggle with Parkinson's Disease.

Althea, more affectionately known as "Tex," was born on August 28, 1930 in Calhoun Falls, SC to the late Furman Boyce Milford and Cornelia Mack Milford.

Althea graduated from Calhoun Falls High School and completed a two-year commerce degree at Winthrop College before moving to Charlotte in 1950 to work as a stenographer for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. At Charlotte's First Baptist Church she met Paul Barton, and as she said, "My real life began." They married in 1950 and shared a wonderful life together as they reared their three daughters and helped rear their grandchildren while sharing interests, traveling to Europe and South America, and making a multitude of friends.

Althea had a vast array of talents and interests. She was a consummate entertainer, relishing in every phase of the planning and execution of her themed dinners and parties. Althea won awards for her Ikebana flower arranging skills. She was a member of garden clubs, the Charlotte Herb Guild, several bridge clubs, the Serendipity Book Club, and the Tuckaway Investment Club. Althea was a long-time member of the Charity League of Charlotte, lending her artistic renderings to the group's fund-raising craft projects. She was the 1994 recipient of the LaRose Grant award for dedicated and continuous service to the league. Her children and grandchildren knew Tex as a formidable Scrabble opponent. For her daughters and grandchildren, she made beautiful dresses and outfits as well as costumes for school plays and church performances, and she even made the wedding dress and veil that all three daughters wore. Above all, Tex loved preparing meals and caring for her family, delighting in their every performance, sports event or achievement.

Since 1964 Althea has been a member of Pritchard Memorial Baptist Church where she served in myriad capacities. She taught Sunday School and Bible School, served on the flower committee, joyfully played in the bell choir, and assisted with any activities in which her girls were involved. She was especially proud of the young singles Sunday School class that she and Paul started and took credit for helping several couples meet and marry. She also loved attending services at Fairfield Mountains Chapel in the Lake Lure community where she and Paul had a second home.

The second home near Lake Lure has become the beloved place where her girls and their husbands, grandchildren and great-grandchildren will gather for years to come to regale each other with the tales of Tex and Papa Paul.

Althea was preceded in death by her husband of 46 years, Paul Barton; her brothers, Frank Milford, James Milford, Howard Milford, George Milford, Victor Milford, and Harry Milford; and sister, Martha Thompson.

She is survived by her daughters Dana Vaden and husband Mike, June Buchele and husband Barry, Jenny Bolen and husband David; grandchildren Trent Vaden, Hillary Vaden Karuza and husband Mihovil, Blair Bolen and wife Nicole, Cameron Bolen McGill and husband Matthew, Mary Britton Bolen Manley and husband Andrew, Weatherly Rose Sams and husband Becker, and Bryson Rose; great-grandchildren Vincent, Paul, and Michaela Karuza; Cora, Eden, and Livie McGill, Farren Sams, a Bolen great-grandson expected in Februar; and her sister, Winton Barnhart.

The family will have a private interment service at Sharon Memorial Park. A celebration of Althea's life will occur at 11:00 AM on Friday, November 16, 2018 at Pritchard Memorial Baptist Church with the Reverends Bobby Morrow, Stan Heiser, and Everette Chapman officiating. A reception will follow in the church's fellowship hall.

The family would like to thank all the caring people at Southminster who have loved and watched over our mother for the last few years and Hospice and Palliative Care Charlotte Region for the kindness and concern they gave her in her final days.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Pritchard Memorial Baptist Church, 1117 South Boulevard Charlotte, NC 28203 or Fairfield Chapel, 1384 Buffalo Creek Road, Lake Lure, NC 28746.

Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, NC 28204; (704) 641-7606. Online condolences can be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.