David Barton

EPSOM – David Albert Barton, 87, a lifelong resident of Epsom, passed away peacefully with his loving family by his side on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at Epsom Healthcare Center after a period of declining health.

He was born on July 30, 1938, in Concord, NH, son of the late Kenneth Knowles and Emily Pauline (Marston) Barton. He was the beloved husband of Natalie-Ann (Reardon) Barton who predeceased him in 2018.

David was raised in Epsom and educated in Pittsfield. Immediately after leaving school, he went to work in the woods with a team of oxen, beginning his life's work as a logger at just 14 years old. He worked alongside his father and uncle in the family business, Barton Brothers Lumber. In the early 1970s, David and his brother, Bruce, took over the company, proudly continuing the family tradition. David remained a dedicated lumberman until his retirement in 2004, marking 50 years in the trade.

David will be remembered as an extraordinarily hardworking man-someone who truly seemed to work "eight days a week." Logging with oxen demanded grit, patience, and strength, and David had all three in abundance. Long days in the woods, early mornings, and the physical demands of the job never slowed him down. He took deep pride in honest work and in carrying on the family business, and he earned the respect of everyone who knew him for his determination, reliability, and quiet dedication.

He was a longtime member of the New England Ox Teamsters Association, the Maine Draft Horse and Ox Association, and the Pine Tree Steer and Ox Association. As a boy, David was active in the Victory Workers 4-H Club, where his lifelong passion for oxen and pulling first began.

David began attending fairs at the age of seven, pulling oxen and competing all over New England and even parts of Canada, like Nova Scotia, always eager to compete and improve. He continued pulling into his 60's. The sport remained deeply rooted in his family. Both David and his wife, Natalie, competed in pulling events, and together they instilled that same love and dedication in their children, Kevin and Kim. David patiently taught them the skills of ox pulling, and under his guidance they became very successful themselves, making it truly a family tradition until they stopped altogether in 2004.

In recognition of his long-standing and active involvement in the sport, the 2024 Cumberland Fair Farmers Club honored David by presenting a first-place plaque at the International Ox Qualifier Pull. Over the years he earned many first-place finishes in Canada and was widely respected for both his success and his sportsmanship.

David also took great pride in handcrafting yokes and bows. He carefully made his yokes from yellow birch and black birch and shaped the bows from hickory, carrying on traditional skills that reflected both his craftsmanship and his deep connection to the work he loved. A true woodsman, he even shoed his own oxen.

Above all, David loved children-especially babies. He was a devoted father and grandfather who rarely missed a sporting event or special moment in their lives. Nothing made him happier than being surrounded by his family, sharing stories, offering quiet guidance, and taking pride in their accomplishments. Known for his honesty-sometimes almost to a fault-David was also a wonderful neighbor who cared deeply for those around him. In recent years, he especially enjoyed "supervising" chocolate-making with his granddaughters and helping deliver the treats to neighbors during the holidays. David spent his later days keeping an eye on the neighborhood, watching for local wildlife and enjoying the company of his honorary dog, Molly.

David treasured his family above all else and valued every moment spent with them. A true lover of nature, he had a deep respect for the land and lived his life as a quiet and dedicated steward of it.

Though David's boots have left the woods and the pulling fields, the lessons he passed on-about hard work, honesty, and devotion to family-will continue to guide those who knew and loved him. His legacy lives on in the strength of the family he raised, the traditions he carried forward, and the many lives he touched along the way.

In addition to his parents and wife, David was predeceased by his two children, Diane Lynn and David Lee who died in a house fire in 1961; son-in-law, Allen Wells; brother, Bruce Barton; and sister, Pauline Wheeler and her husband, Don.

He is survived by his children, Kim Barton-Wells of Londonderry and Kevin Barton and his wife, Sandra of Epsom; eight grandchildren, Daniel Sturm and his partner, Angel of Chester, Nicole Barton of Epsom, Diane Kimball and her husband, Alex of Barnstead, Christina Pacuk and her husband, Andrew of Allenstown, Jessica Wells and her partner, Adam of West Paris, ME, Kelly Barton of Concord, Katherine Wells and her partner, Tyler of Londonderry and Kyle Barton of Epsom; four great grandchildren, Payton, Cameron, Joseph and Jaxon; sisters, Ruth Bachelder and her husband, Charles of Epsom and Brenda Dorman and her husband, Doug of Pittsburg, NH; sister-in-law, Debbie Barton of Manchester; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Calling hours will be held on Thursday, March 12, 2026, from 3:00-7:00PM at the Roan Family Funeral Home – Still Oaks Chapel, 1217 Suncook Valley Highway, Epsom. David will be laid to rest with his wife and two children at Moore Cemetery in Loudon in the spring. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in David's memory to the South Pittsfield Community Club, 444 Dowboro Road, Pittsfield, NH 03263 or to the Victory Workers 4-H Club, 615 Dowboro Road, Pittsfield, NH 03263. To share a memory or offer condolences please visit www.roanfamilyfuneral.com.