BARTON, Frances H.
January 18, 1916 - September 13, 2017
Our dear mother and grandmother died peacefully in her home surrounded by her loving family and close friends on September 13, 2017 at the grand age of 101. Fran was born on January 18, 1916 in Winnipegosis, Manitoba where she lived until she was 10. As a child, she explored her world with a rare curiosity and a talent for mischief. Her family moved to Winnipeg. As she grew there, her athletic skills grew with her. She enjoyed tennis and speed skating, was part of the first women’s hockey league, and played university basketball. She also discovered her artistic talents which remained an important part of her life. In Winnipeg she met, and later fell in love with, Jim Barton, her husband for 67 years. His calling led him to the ministry and together they served in Baptist Union churches across western Canada until Jim’s retirement from Elk Lake Baptist Church in Victoria in 1982. Fran had an extraordinary memory coupled with an ability to act. She used this to memorize and orate stories like “The Gift of the Magi”. Because of her skill she was often asked to speak publicly. The last time she did so, she was 99 years old. During her life, Fran worked as a youth pastor, taught Sunday school for decades, shared our home with a refugee family from Hungary, taught children and adults with intellectual disabilities and volunteered in endless capacities. She had a place reserved in her heart for people in need. Her life was one of service and compassion with a ready love for anyone she met. Fran’s deep faith was one expressed by caring for others. Her optimism and kindness were bright gifts to all of us. Everyone who knew her loved her, and she will be deeply missed. She was predeceased by her husband, her sister Olive and her brother Norman. We who live beyond her are her 5 children, Stephanie (and John), Leslie (and Rusty), Frank, Sylvia and Robert, 11 grand-children, and 17 greatgrand children, Her memorial service will be held on Saturday September 23, at 2 p.m. at Elk Lake Baptist Church, 5349 Pat Bay Highway, Victoria.