Adele Barton

1931 - 2018

WALLINGFORD - Adele Barton, 87, beloved mother and friend, passed away at Masonicare Hospice on Saturday, May 12, 2018 after a brief illness.

She entered this world on Jan. 7, 1931 in Torrington, born to Arthur Lake and Irene (Walker) Leonard. She grew up in Yalesville, and was raised by her mother and grandparents, Faye and Bessie Walker. She often talked about riding along with her grandfather on his coal and ice deliveries throughout town. Adele graduated from prep school at Northfield/Mount Herman in Massachusetts and received her Associate's Degree from Endicott College in Beverly, Mass. She married her ex-husband Arnold (Red) Barton (2018) in 1956. They settled in Durham, until the birth of their fourth child prompted a move to Yalesville, in 1968.

She is survived by her daughter, Linda Barton Rolstone; and three sons, Kenneth Barton (Michael Cowles), David Barton (Diana), Glen Barton (Loy Hayes), and Sri Lankan son, Anu Walaliyadda (Paula Clogher). She was especially proud of her six grandchildren, Emily Brandt (Chris), Geoffrey Rolstone, Hilary Rolstone, James Rolstone, Shea Barton, Conlan Barton; and her very special great-grandchildren, Reaghan and Easton James "EJ" Brandt as well as her long-time four-legged companion, Tucker. Although an only child, Adele's cousins, Maridell Mason (2017), Betty Czaplicki, Marcia Felber, Bryce Honeywell, and Russ Leonard were very much like her sisters and brothers.

Adele was instrumental in developing the American Field Service (AFS) program at Sheehan High School and her and her family's lives were so enriched by the multitude of exchange student children who lived with the Barton's over the course of nearly 15 years including Luis Mata from Costa Rica, Lulu Suarez from the Philipines, Anu Walaliyadda from Sri Lanka, and Soren Pederson from Denmark. She also befriended students from all over the world and was an accomplished world traveler with trips to Costa Rica, England, Ireland, Europe, and South Africa and many other countries to visit her international family. Her spiritual home has been St. John the Evangelist Episcopal Church in Yalesville, and her church family has enriched her life for 50 years. She leaves behind many dear friends and a legacy of caregiving through her Masonic ministry and, of course, her homemade oatmeal bread and cookies.

Her family wants to extend their deep gratitude to her caregiver for the past year, Aleta Van Valen who kept her healthy, laughing, and mostly out of trouble. She also received loving and compassionate care at Masonicare Hospice. A celebration of her life will take place at St. John the Evangelist Episcopal Church on Saturday, June 9 at 10 a.m. Her ashes will be interned with her grandparents at In Memoriam Cemetery following the service. In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made in her name to St. John the Evangelist Church or The Covenant House (covenanthouse.org), a charity near and dear to her heart and to which she has been a supporter for over 25 years.