THOMAS RAY BARTON

BARTON, THOMAS (TOM) RAY - August 14, 1947 thru July 4, 2012, lifelong member of First Baptist Church, Knoxville, passed away peacefully Wednesday afternoon. Tom was born and raised in Westwood Subdivision and graduated from West High School. He attended East Tennessee State University where he was a member of Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity. He served proudly in the United States Air Force as a hydraulics specialist, and completed a tour of duty with the 31st Tactical Fighter Wing based in Tuy Hoa, Vietnam, in 1968, shortly after the TET Offensive. Tom was employed by the Tennessee Mill and Mine Company, and most recently at Enviro-Systems, Inc. He was preceded in death by parents, Clarence Raymond Barton and Helen Barton. He is survived by sister and brother-in-law: Docia and Dick Powell; brother and sister-in-law, Alan and Debbie Barton; loving nieces and nephews, Rick Powell, Russ Powell, Elizabeth Powell Browning, Amanda Barton, and Jed Barton. The family and friends will meet Saturday at Highland Memorial Cemetery for a 9:30 a.m. graveside service with Rev. Dave Ward officiating. The family request memorials may be made to: First Baptist Church, Knoxville, 510 West Main Street, Knoxville, Tennessee 37902. Following the graveside service, the family will receive friends from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Saturday at Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel. Online condolences may be made at www.rosemortuary.com.