Lionel Oscar Barton

1942 - 2024

Lionel Oscar Barton
02/11/1942 - 04/16/2024
Lionel Oscar Barton, who parlayed his mathematical skills into a successful career as a Geophysicist at Chevron, USA, and into an exciting hobby as a world-class player of contract bridge, passed into eternity on April 16, 2024, at a hospital in Houston, Texas, after a valiant fight against the ravages of kidney disease.
Oscar, as he was known to family and many friends, was born in the village of Buxton, Guyana, to the late Inez and Lyndon O'Dowd Barton. Owing to the early death of his mother, the nurturance of Oscar, his older sister, Olive, and his younger brother, Winston, was provided by their stepmother, Mary Barton. Oscar also credited his older brother, Lyndon Barton, with guiding him, especially during his high school years.
He attended the prestigious high school, Queen's College, from 1953 to 1960, and he regarded his intellectual, physical and social development during these years as pivotal to his later accomplishments and life satisfaction. He excelled in dance, cricket, volleyball, track and rugby. In addition to being an exceptional athlete, his success at mathematics and physics ultimately led to a scholarship from the Government of Jamaica in 1960 allowing him to pursue a degree in Natural Sciences at the University of London West Indies, Mona, Jamaica. On graduating with his B.Sc. in 1963, Oscar taught at Manning's School, Savanna-la-Mar, one of the oldest high schools in Jamaica. After about 4 years at Manning's, he emigrated to the USA, where he worked for more than a quarter century in the geological research labs at Chevron (he also played first division soccer for Chevron).
In parallel with his professional career, Oscar developed a stunning reputation within the world of contract bridge. He and a range of partners played in tournaments and exhibitions around the USA and abroad, most sponsored by the American Bridge Association and some by its older and much larger counterpart, the American Contract Bridge League. Oscar was ranked number one for many years in that nation, but due to decreased travel and limiting himself to two tournaments person - he dropped in rank to deserving competition. This explains the precision in Tanya Rodich's announcement of the sad news to the bridge community (on bridgewinners.com, 4/19/24): "Mr. Barton was second-ranked in the American Bridge Association at 42,384.34 Association points. Mr. Barton was also a Life Master in the ACBL and a member of District 16's unit 174 in Houston." Oscar served as teacher and mentor to many in the ABA community. Indeed, he achieved Grand Life Master status and was a past president of the ABA, which memorialized him in the "Lionel Barton KO Competition" at the Juneteenth Sectional Tournament in New Orleans, June 25-28, 2019.
Upon his retiring from Chevron, Oscar and his wife, Olive McPherson-Barton, began the construction of Lovett Place, an assisted living/senior care home in Houston, which they operated continuously since welcoming its first resident in 1998. In recent years, their daughter, Lana Barton (Shane and Sean), has assumed an increasing share of the management of Lovett Place. Their son, Omar Barton (better known by his stage name, DJ Candlestick), also lives with his wife (Shaisley) in Houston.
Oscar was a vibrant presence in the lives of many others, including his extended family of siblings and cousins, his many friends from high school and university, and his passionate bridge community. He will be sorely missed.
The life of Lionel Oscar Barton will be celebrated on Saturday, May 4, 2024, 11:00 a.m. at Riverside Houston UMC, 4920 Cullen Blvd., Houston, TX 77004. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m.
Interment will take place at Paradise Cemetery - South in Pearland, TX.