Don Chester Barton

Don Chester Barton died peacefully at home in Costa Mesa, California, of natural causes on February 4, 2022, at the age of 91. Don was born on July 8, 1930, in Alhambra, California, to Frances Hurlbutt Barton and Don C. Barton Sr. Don was raised in Alhambra and graduated from Mark Keppel High School in 1949.

Don joined the Navy in 1950. He loved being in the Navy and was very proud to have served his country. He served on the USS Epperson during the Korean War. He was a witness to “Operation Castle”, an atomic test conducted in the Marshall Islands. It was during his time in the Navy that Don started his career as an Electrical Repairman. It was also the start of his love for travel. Don kept in touch with his shipmates and attended USS Epperson reunions all around the country, until he was one of a just a few seamen surviving.

Don met Joanie Edwards while he was stationed at Pearl Harbor and Joanie’s family was vacationing in Honolulu. They married in 1953 and had three children, Don Chester Barton III, Lani Bernice Barton, and Debra Elizabeth Barton. He settled his family in Newport Beach in 1957.

After his discharge from the Navy in 1954, Don continued his education at the University of Southern California. He received his Bachelor of Electrical Engineering in 1957. He was in the Electrical Engineering Honorary Fraternity Eta, Kappa, Nu; the Engineering Scholastic Honorary Fraternity, Tau Beta Pi; and the Professional Electrical Engineering Fraternity, Aiee Ire. Don was a very enthusiastic USC football fan.

Don joined the Aeronutronic Division of Philco in the early 1960s, which subsequently became Philco-Ford, and then Ford Aerospace Corp. He worked on many programs, such as the Shillelagh Laser Beam-rider System, HARM and Phoenix program, Chaparral Missile Systems, AN/DAW Programs, Sidewinder Missile (AIM-9) programs, RSS programs, and AAWA-M Systems, just to name a few. Don spent much of his Ford Aeronutronic career in various management positions. He was the supervisor of Missile Seeker Section in the Missile Systems Operation, and later was the Manager of the Opto-Mechanical Engineering Department. He retired in 1990.

Don enjoyed many interests and hobbies throughout his life, including Bible study, attending Calvary Chapel, mountaineering, music, stamp collecting, succulents and cacti, and travel. He mostly enjoyed sharing these with friends and family.

Don was preceded in death by his son, Don C. Barton III. His surviving family members are daughter, Lani, and son–in –law, Chris Christensen; daughter, Elizabeth Barton; daughter-in-law, Trisha Barton; eight grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.pacificviewcalifornia.com for the Barton family.