William A. Barton

1929 - 2012

WILLIAM A. BARTON

William A. Barton passed away at his home in Red Bluff on June 18, 2012. He was born July 8, 1929, the only child of Robert J. and Josephine C. Kirk Barton of Canoga Park, located in the San Fernando Valley. Home was a small farm among the orange groves. Following high school, in 1949 he was a member of the first graduating class of Pierce Agricultural College.

After serving in the Korean War, Bill began his lifelong passion for ranching. He took a seven week job at Emerald Angus in Elk Grove and stayed seven years, initially as herdsman and later as manager until the ranch dispersed. While there he was on the "show road" promoting cattle at different fairs and national livestock shows from May until November of each year. It was at one of these many livestock shows that he met his wife of 55 years, Jean Willard of Red Bluff, and their first date was an Angus banquet during the Cow Palace.

Later Bill was a foreman at the Jack's Valley Ranch, Carson City, Nevada. In 1966, he and Jean moved back to Jean's home in Red Bluff to form the Willard and Barton Ranch with Jean's parents. For many years, Bill and Jean traveled with their cattle between the Susanville and Red Bluff ranches where their stock grazed on USFS and timber company lands at Eagle Lake and Willard Creek during the summer and then when fall came the cattle returned to Tehama County where the milder winters provided green pastures.

An avid 49'er and Giants fan, Bill also enjoyed reading historical books, traveling with Jean on ranch tours, watching the grandkids at sporting events and socializing with friends, especially Andy's Breakfast Club on Sundays.

For 15 years Bill was a 4-H Beef leader and for 30 years he was a member of the Tehama County Junior Livestock Auction Committee. Other memberships included the Tehama County Farm Bureau and Tehama County Cattlemen's Association, the latter serving as president. He was a State Director of the California Cattlemen's Association and a charter member of both the National Cattlemen's Association and the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. In addition he was a Life Member of the American Angus Association, a 43 year member of the Red Bluff Elks Lodge, and belonged to the Tehama County Genealogical and Historical Society as well as the Lassen and Colusi Historical Societies.

In 1988 Bill was recognized by TCJLAC in appreciation of outstanding service. Then in 1992 Tehama County CowBelles honored Bill with their Father's Day Award for his tireless work with the 4-H, FFA, Junior Livestock Auction, and high school rodeos. Bill and Jean Barton were the 2008 Grand Marshalls of the Red Bluff Round-Up Parade, and the team was again recognized in 2010 as the Red Bluff Kiwanis Farmer of the Year at the Farm-City dinner. His most recent honor came in 2010 when he was named Tehama County Cattleman's Man of the Year.

Bill is survived by his wife Jean, daughters Linda (Kevin) Borror and Kendra (Mike) McCluskey, grandchildren Callie, Bryce (Erin), Rochelle Borror, Shay and Jenny McCluskey and cousin Helen Robinson of Morro Bay.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to: Livestock Memorial Research Fund (Foothill Abortion) c/o California Cattlemen's Association, 1221 H Street, Sacramento, CA 85814. Special thanks to St. Elizabeth Hospice.

Join us for a barbeque at his Celebration of Life, July 8th 1 p.m.

It will be held at Willard and Barton headquarters, now the home of Mike and Kendra McCluskey, 13700 Lyman Lane, Red Bluff.