Joseph Charles Barto Jr.

BARTO, Jr., Joseph JOSEPH CHARLES BARTO, JR. Lieutenant Colonel, United States Army (Retired) Joseph C. Barto, Jr. of Powder Springs, Georgia was born on March 12, 1923 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania the only son of Joseph Charles Barto and Anna Dorothy Barto and died on Monday Oct. 20th at the age of 91. Husband, Father, Friend, Soldier, Businessman, and Volunteer-a life of service to his family and our nation. On June 20, 1942 he enlisted in the United States Army and after Basic Training, was assigned to the 704th Tank Destroyer Battalion, landed on Utah Beach in Normandy with the 4th Armored Division, on July 11th, 1944 and entered combat on July 17, 1944. After 230 days of continuous combat operations, he had fought in all five major European campaigns. After Victory in Europe (VE) day he returned to Bethlehem and began work at the Bethlehem Steel Company as a Lathe Operator. On September 11, 1947 he re-enlisted in the Army and over the next three years he was promoted three times to Sergeant, Staff Sergeant, and Sergeant First Class. On May 22, 1951 he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of Armor and began a distinguished career including a one year assignment to the Military Advisory Group Cambodia in 1960. In 1966 he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and was posted to his final assignment as the Post Maintenance Officer, Fort Knox, Kentucky where he retired on August 31, 1968 after more than 26 years of service with eight years overseas. His military awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Good Conduct Medal with three awards, National Defense Service Medal with two awards, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 5 Battle Stars (Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes, and Central Europe), and the World War II Victory Medal. Upon retirement from the Army, he was the Southeast Region Plant Engineer and the Georgia District Plant Engineer for United Parcel Service (UPS). In 1984 he was recognized as the Plant Engineer of the year by the Georgia Chapter of the American Society of Plant Engineers. He retired for a second time from UPS in 1985 at the age of 62 after 17 years with the company. Later that same year he accepted the position as the Volunteer Coordinator for the Army Community Service Office at Fort McPherson, Georgia and began a distinguished third career of volunteer service to his country including the Military Officers Association, Georgia Federal Military Coalition, Knights of Columbus, Elks Lodge #79 Tucker, Georgia, Charleston Bay Homeowners Association, Coalition on Aging, Georgia Men of Epsilon Sigma Alpha and the Epsilon Sigma Alpha Foundation, Advisory Board of the Georgia National Cemetery, and the 4th Armored Division Association. In 1995 he received the Department of the Army "Emma Baird" Volunteer Award at the Pentagon, Washington, DC. In 2005, he received one of only 10 Volunteer of the Year awards given by Atlanta's Channel 11 in recognition for his lifetime of service to his nation and his community. In 2014, the Georgia Military Officer's Association of America established the LTC (Retired) Joseph C. Barto, Jr. Service Award which will be presented annually to members of the State of Georgia Executive and Legislative Branches for their support of Veterans as exemplified by LTC Barto's dedicated service to Georgia's Veterans. He is pre-deceased by his parents, Joseph C. Barto and Anna Dorothy Barto, his sister Marie Kren, and his former wife Evelyn Louise Barto. He is survived by his wife Dorothy Albert Barto. His children: Suzanne Donino and husband Frank, Linda Harding and husband Rick, Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Joseph C. Barto, III and wife Patricia, Major (Retired) Michael T. Barto and wife Alice, Mary Kenline and husband Mark. His grandchildren: Tamara Wilmoth, Larry Dean Morrison, Joseph C. Barto, IV, Thomas P. Barto and wife Vy, Kevin M. Barto, Daniel W. Barto, Christopher M. Barto, William M. Barto, Kathryn Hardin Edwards and husband Tyler, Ann M. Kenline. His great grandchildren; Travis Wilmoth, Taylor Wilmoth, and Christian A. Morrison. His step children: Carole Carroll and husband Larry, Eric Hough and wife Margaret, Renee Ramsey and husband George. He is a long time member of St. Thomas the Apostle Roman Catholic Church in Smyrna, Georgia. His family has endowed the LTC & Mrs. Joseph C. Barto, Jr. Outstanding Cadet Award at the University of North Georgia to memorialize our parent's legacy of service to our nation. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made at UNG Foundation, Inc. P.O. Box 1599 Dahlonega, GA. 30533 Attn: LTC Joseph Charles Barto, Jr. The family will receive visitors at Crowell Brothers Funeral Home on Friday Oct. 24, 2014 from 3:00 - 7:00 PM The funeral mass will be at St. Thomas the Apostle Roman Catholic Church, 4300 King Springs Road, S.E. Smyrna, GA on Saturday, October 25,, 2014 at 12:45 PM with a reception immediately following at the Rectory. LTC Barto will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors at a date to be determined. On-line condolences can be made at www.crowellbrothers.com. Arrangements by Crowell Brothers Funeral Home Peachtree Chapel, 5051 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, Peachtree Corners/Norcross, Georgia 30092. 770-448-5757. - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/atlanta/obituary.aspx?pid=172893670#sthash.Fdpd8k5n.dpuf