Alva Aileen Barton

BARTON, Alva Aileen
Sacramento and South Lake Tahoe has lost one of its last true pioneers whose family roots date back to California's earliest days of 1846. Alva Barton passed away June 7, 2004 at the Folsom Mercy Hospital, Folsom, CA. Alva was born September 6, 1906 in Weber Lake, Sierra Valley, CA where her father was running a dairy. She attended Carson Creek grammar school in Sacramento and graduated from Sacramento High School in 1926. Alva spent her life between Folsom and South Lake Tahoe where she operated a dairy. In her early childhood, along with her sister, Fay Ledbetter, she delivered milk, cream and eggs in a horse and wagon throughout the south shore of Lake Tahoe. The family creamery was called Lake Valley Creamery. She spent every summer of her life living at Lake Tahoe working on the family businesses which over the years included, along with the dairy, stables, pack mule rentals, chickens, lambs and finally beef cattle. During the winter the family cattle operation was moved to Sloughhouse, CA. Alva and her sister, Fay, were most proud to have been able to donate six acres of land which became Lake Tahoe's first hospital. The hospital was named in the family's honor - Barton Memorial Hospital. Alva would have been 98 on September 6. She is survived by her niece, Melba Mosher of Elk Grove, CA; nephew, William Ledbetter of Zephyr Cove, NV and three generations of great-nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Ouida Barton; sister, Fay Ledbetter and foster brother, Jessie Riola. She remained in her home on the Barton Ranch in Sloughhouse, CA until her death. Friends are welcome for visitation on Thursday, June 10 from 2-8pm at East Lawn Andrews and Greilich, 3939 Fruitridge Road. Funeral services will be at 2pm on Friday, June 11 at East Lawn Memorial Park, 43rd St. and Folsom Blvd. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Barton Memorial Hospital, 2170 S. Ruth Avenue, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150.