Ross F. Barto Jr.

How do you capture a lifetime in a few paragraphs? My husband, Ross F. Barto, Jr., passed away on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, in Oklahoma City. He was born May 7, 1948, in Rome, New York. Shortly after graduating from high school in 1966, he enlisted in the Air Force. His 20-year career as an air traffic controller found him stationed at Griffiss Air Base conveniently located in Rome, NY, Viet Nam, Satellite Beach FL, Biloxi MS, Okinawa Japan, King Salmon AK and Belleville IL. While stationed at home we were married on May 18, 1968. It's a wonder we ever got married. I turned him down for a date three times before we went to the movies. We never could decide if we saw "Torn Curtain" or "The Glass Bottom Boat." If that wasn't enough to discourage him, I was 20 minutes late for our wedding. I frequently reminded him that I gave him plenty of time to re-think his choices! During his enlistment, he was stationed at Cody Hall at Keesler AFB MS, first as a student, then as an instructor and lastly as an intermediate supervisor. While assigned during his third tour, he oversaw the base honor guard which always was a source of pride. The team brought dignity to a veteran's funeral and provided comfort for the family. He didn't do any activity halfway, as evidenced when he coached a women's softball team in Okinawa. This team was made up of enlisted women and wives of sponsors. Practice could sometimes resemble day care. Drills would be going on and all of a sudden, a mother/2nd baseman would be running off the field to attend to her child or stop a fight between siblings. Now, Ross wasn't the most patient person. For him to coach this group was an amazing feat. He remained dedicated and got the ladies playing like a fine-tuned piano. They even played against the Kadena AB team. They didn't win the game, but they sure could hold their heads high. We lived in base housing on Kadena conveniently located up the hill from the base golf course. He never could resist the greens or fairways calling his name to grab his clubs. He ended up having a single digit handicap. Returning to Mississippi after being overseas, he once again coached a team. This time it was a men's flag football team comprised of military members. Unlike last time, the team won the base championship. We lived in Ocean Springs MS during that tour. Our son, Jeff, was on a YMCA flag football team. According to Ross the league was good, but the officiating wasn't the greatest. The commissioner heard Ross complaining about the officials and he was told to do it himself if he thought he could do a better job. That's all Ross had to hear was the challenge and he was off recruiting and training people to officiate and umpire games. Most of the people Ross recruited were from the base. Every Saturday during the season we were committed to either playing the game, officiating the game, or selling concessions. We were named as the Coast YMCA Volunteer Family of the Year for 1983.

He did have some quirks that became evident due to his golfing experience and his air traffic control background. When we would play miniature golf, he had to line up every putt! He would never be the one getting hung up on the windmill hole! Watching the Six Million Dollar Man, he would point out to his loving family that Steve Austin took off in one plane and landed in a different plane. Who knew?

After retiring in 1987 from the military, we settled in Mustang where he worked as a contract instructor with the FAA. Before becoming an FAA federal employee in 2001, he was a bartender at Texanna Red's Restaurant and supervisor at Dayton Tire. We got hooked on the Women's College World Series. The series hadn't fully caught on when we started attending games. We sat in bleachers, on the grassy hill, wherever we could sit. We finally found our permanent seats in Section 7. Year after year we have looked forward to seeing our softball family. We come from different states and different backgrounds, but we are bound by a love for each other. I got Ross involved in attending the touring Broadway shows at the Civic Center. We were also subscribers for many years to the OKC Philharmonic where we met wonderful friends around Orchestra Right Row R. Ross' favorite musical was "Beauty and the Beast". He could never figure how the beast turned into the prince right in front of us. He continued to golf with his friends from the FAA. I was his "caddy", but I didn't even know what club he was asking for! I was there for the fresh air, exercise and socializing, as well as the great breakfasts. When he finally retired from anything resembling a job, he turned his interests to his lawn and gardening and working out at the Mustang Community Center. He also did the weekly grocery shopping at WalMart where he made many friends. He would talk to anybody. I figured that I didn't talk to him enough at home, so he had to make conversation with everybody he met! We always had dogs. He loved all of them but especially Charlie, a black lab. Ross saw a picture on a dog food can that resembled Charlie. He had to cut out that picture and have it laminated. It is still in his wallet. He retired from the Air Force many years ago, but the Air Force discipline never left him. His favorite song was "God Bless the USA" which he thought should be the national anthem.

Ross is survived by his wife, Lynda; daughter Suzanne (Manny) Leon, Yukon; grandchildren Frankie and Olivia Leon; great grandson Kai Leon; brother Dennis (Jeannette), Davidson NC; in laws from Rome, NY: Doug and Tara Jones, Kathy and Jerry Maurer, David and Lynda Jones, several nieces and nephews. Ross was preceded in death by our son, Jeff; his parents, "Rusty" and "Jackie"; brother, "Chip" and sister-in-law Doreen Brewer.

The funeral service with full military honors will be held Monday, February 16, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at St John Nepomuk Catholic Church, Yukon, OK. Donations may be made to St Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis TN 38105 and Free to Live, PO Box 5884, Edmond OK 73083.

"Cherish is the word……."

Online condolences may be signed at www.yandafuneral.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Yanda & Son Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Yukon, OK.