Howard Barton Jr.

Howard Barton Jr., who was born February 7, 1928 at Flower 5th Ave Hospital in New York City, to Howard Barton and Florence Prosi Barton, died on Thursday, January 21, 2016 at his home in St. James Manor, Oneonta. He was 87 years old.

On August 2, 1952 he married Patricia A. Gallagher at Trinity Methodist Church on Staten Island, NY.

On his 17th birthday he enlisted in the US Navy during WWII. He served aboard the Navy Tugboat USS Sassacus. He traveled through the Panama Canal to California. When the war ended and he was honorably discharged, he returned to Staten Island to complete his high school education.

Howard was employed by Singer Sewing Machine Co as an apprentice metal pattern maker for 4 years. He left Singer to join the NYC Housing Police. From there, he accepted a position as a NYC Deputy Sheriff. Following that, he became a NYC Family Court Officer. He was then promoted to the NYS Supreme Court where he served for 2 years as a personal officer to Supreme Court Justice Theodore Barlow. Justice Veto Titone of the NYS Appellate Division offered him a position in the Appellate Court as a court officer. He retired as a Supreme Court Lieutenant. During this time he received several awards for pistol marksmanship.

Howard was a 57-year member of Richmond Lodge #66 F+AM. He was a member of Great Kills chapter #681 OES, where he served as Patron when his wife was Matron.

He was active in a variety of sports throughout the years, playing in several church leagues. After he retired they moved upstate and he competed on Senior Bowling Leagues and Tournaments with his wife Patricia.

Upon checking his ancestry, he found he was a direct descendant of King Edward II of England (Longshanks) and continued the Royal line back to Charlemagne.

His grandfather, John B. Prosi, on his mother’s side was a Civil War hero, serving three years with the 156th Regiment NY State Volunteers.

Howard is survived by his wife of 63 years, Patricia Anne; his three children and their spouses, Howard Barton 3rd and his wife Laurele, Martha Hayward and her husband Dave, and Susan Vokral and her husband Fred; and his grandson David Craig Hayward.

At Howard’s request, there will be no services.

The family gratefully declines flowers and requests, those who wish to remember Howard with a memorial gift, consider the Susquehanna SPCA, 4841 NY-28, Cooperstown, NY 13326.

Condolences to the family may be made online by visiting our website: www.grummonsfuneralhome.com

Arrangements are by the Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home of Oneonta.