JAMES BARTON JR.
March 29, 1930- December 14, 2020
James William Barton Jr. was born to Jim Barton and Beatrice Finn in Bakersfield. Jim had an older brother, Sam, and his sisters Mary Anne, Nancy, and Lynn completed the Barton family. Jim and his family moved to Delano as a child where he attended local schools graduating from Delano High School in 1947. He attended BC for a year before leaving for school at USC with the goal of becoming a pharmacist. He graduated and licensed as a pharmacist in 1952. At USC he served as President of the School of Pharmacy.
In 1950 Jim married his high school sweetheart, Kathryn Logan. They were married 70 years. They had four children, Larry, Kim, Tom and Laurel. In 1953 Jim went to work for El Tejon Drugs. He became branch manager and then in 1968 he and two partners bought the El Tejon Drugs and Jim became President and Chairman of the Board. When Jim wasn’t working and raising a family he was busy with his hobbies. He built a cabin on Greenhorn and became a private pilot. He was an avid bird watcher and used his pharmacy skills to make home crafted Margaritas.
He was active in the community, especially in Rotary. He was a charter member of the Bakersfield South Rotary club and served as president in 1966 and District Governor in 1986-1987. He was a Paul Harris Fellow. Although Rotary was a big part of his life, Jim served the community in many ways. He was active in the Kern Pharmacy Association and served as their President and later served as Treasurer of the California Pharmacy Association and was a member of the executive board. He won the Bowl of Hygeia award, in recognition of his contributions to pharmacy in the field of community service.
Jim also served on the founding boards of CALM and Hoffman Hospice. He was a member of the Flying Samaritans a group to deliver medical care to Mexico and the Kern County Aero-Squadron volunteer search and rescue. Jim was well and active until he developed lymphoma earlier in the summer. He is preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Sam Barton, as well as his daughter, Kim. He is survived by his loving wife, Kathryn, as well as his sisters Mary Anne Gage, Nancy Lewis, and Lynn Cragin. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Edna Ivans, brother-in-law, George Logan (Carlene), his children Larry, Tom (Alicia) and Laurel Britton, (Mark), his eight grandchildren and 12 soon to be 13 great grandchildren, as well as cousins, nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at a later date. No flowers please. Donations if you wish to Westminster Presbyterian Church 2080 Stine Rd. or the Rotary International Foundations fund to end Polio at https://www.endpolio.org/donate