On August 19, 1940, God planted a seed of love, through the union of Robert & Sadie (Elder) Barton, Sr., that produced the last bouncing baby boy, Charles Edward Barton, born one day after his mother’s birthday in Eureka, Texas.
The comment made the day he was born was that, “Well, we have an even dozen now.”
He was the twelfth child on the Barton vine who joined his siblings: Edna, Robert, Jr., Mavis, Andrew “AG”, Mable “Fatty”, Irma Jean, Gladys Christine, Laverne “Coupie”, Floyd, Freda, and Homer. Three sisters, Thelma “Bea”, Linda, and Eulanda “Teeny”, would join the family after him.
As a child, Charles was a pretty baby with cold, black hair that cascaded into flowing curls. His hair was so pretty that Sadie wouldn’t cut it until he was two-years old. Many who saw the rosy cheeked cherub thought he was a little girl.
The family were lifelong members of Griffin Chapel Church of God in Christ of Corsicana, Texas. The entire family was active in the church and would travel to church 3 and 4 deep in the car at least 6 days a week. Spending the whole Sunday in church. He had fond memories of conventions in Waco, BTU, and Bible school.
If the family wasn’t at church, they were working, mostly as a family unit. They worked heavily in the agricultural, farming, and construction arena. Charles would tell stories about the family working in the various fields and on farms around Navarro county. His attention to detail in these stories was mindboggling.
He recalled being so good at the animal husbandry learned through his upbringing and FFA that he and Homer would work with area vets and county agents to vaccinate and tend to livestock in their community.
He attended Rice Elementary School, Hester Grove Elementary in Chatfield, and Kerens Elementary School. He graduated from Park “Colored” High School in Kerens, Texas (1959) where he was known to sneak off to play basketball with the team and change his uniform before going home because his parents didn’t approve.
After graduation, he moved to Dallas to live with family and find employment in the construction field. And later, he began his career in produce with Harrison Produce at the Dallas Farmer’s Market. He recalled someone questioning his race on the application where he had checked “Negro.” The employee said “you are not Negro.” His response, “well, that is what my Mama told me.”
Although their paths had crossed many times in Corsicana through mutual friends, they formally met, and began dating in 1961. When courting, Charles didn’t own a car and would walk to Pat’s house to visit her and would borrow a friend’s car to pick her up from nursing school. He married the love of his life, Patricia Butcher of Corsicana, Texas, on June 5, 1962 and remained married until his death, celebrating 62 years of marriage. To this union, two daughters, La Juana and Robin, were born who lovingly called him “Chucky Cheesers” and “Punky Charles.”
The three girls became “Charlie’s Angels.”
Pat and Charles were a living love story. They loved and supported each other all the years that they were together. You didn’t see one without the other.
He was a self starter and was a co-owner of a gas station and later, Unloaders Unlimited, a building material and hauling company that employed many of his relatives.
As a father, he was truly a “Girl’s Dad” supporting them from childhood to womanhood. He attended games, drill team and cheerleader competitions, school open houses and PTA meetings, plays, numerous move ins and move outs at UT and UTA, and back and forth to Austin for session, and any other activities his daughters were involved in.
When La Juana and Robin attended UT, he would visit often, unselfishly support them financially, and even sent them a Christmas tree on Greyhound Bus.
He taught his girls to love family and to be of service to others. Most often putting others’ needs before his own.
He ended his entrepreneurship, and returned to his love of farming working with plants and produce serving as buyer and manager at various produce and nursery businesses including Pic A Pec Produce, and Patton’s Corner.
Although retired, he remained active by selling watermelons and sweet potatoes, and had talked about what he was going to do this summer and fall for his Facebook and online customers who dubbed him the “Sweet Potato Man”. He had the eye to see and hands to create a vision of beauty and calm in anyone’s yard or surroundings.
He also volunteered or was voluntold for many organizations and entities including the Dr. Emmett J. Conrad Leadership Program, Jackson Ex. Student Association, Paul Quinn College, Roark Elementary School, and any other projects his three girls were involved in.
My Sister’s Keeper was another badge he wore proudly. Having and nurturing a beautiful and protective relationship with his sisters. After his father’s death, he stepped up to see after his Mom and sisters left at home. He brought them Christmas trees and gifts each year, and other needed/wanted items. As adults, he shared a special bond with his remaining sisters and gave them sister gifts at Christmas celebrating their love and family legacy. A lot of his time was spent calling them and relishing their visits and drive-bys.
Family was very important to him and he loved family reunions, the Charles Barton’s After Christmas Family Game Night, and any other reason for the family to get together and share.
He was known by family and friends as the one you could always depend on, the one who loved dominoes, cards, and eating who possessed a wicked sense of humor. He loved football and basketball most. He enjoyed watching and discussing games with his baby girl and friends.
In his later years, he enjoyed worshiping with the Shiloh Primitive Baptist Church of Kirvin, Texas on 1st Sundays.
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