Richard A Barton

Palm Coast Observer
Tributes & Obituaries

Richard A Barton
1946-2020

Richard A Barton, 73, passed away peacefully on June 10, 2020 in Daytona Beach, Florida. A former resident of Glen Ridge, N.J., Richard lived in Palm Coast and Bunnell, FL for the past 15 years.

Born in Passaic, N.J., Rich grew up in Belleville and graduated from Belleville High School in 1964. Rich served proudly in the United States Navy surviving the fire aboard the U.S.S. Forrestal in 1967. After his honorable discharge, he earned his Bachelor’s degree from Bloomfield College in 1978. In 1971 he married his wife Elizabeth Finaldi and they were married until her death in 2015. Rich started working for his father-in-law at Newark Tool Corporation before buying the company and running it until his retirement in 2004.

As a younger man, Rich enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was very active in Veterans affairs and was a member of Rolling Thunder, participating in their annual Memorial Day weekend ride to Washington D.C to bring full accountability for POW/MIA service members of all U.S. wars. He enjoyed riding his motorcycle and his weekly breakfast with friends at Sammy J’s Boston’s Best Restaurant.

In accordance with Rich’s wishes, there will be no services and his ashes will be buried at sea aboard a United States Navy ship.

Rich was predeceased by his wife Elizabeth, her parents Richard and Joanne Finaldi, his parents James and Alice Barton and his brother James Barton, Jr. He is survived by his daughter Stacey Curley and her husband James of Centerville, MA, his son, Richard Barton, Jr. and his wife Erika of Millington, N.J., his beloved grandchildren Catherine Curley, James Curley, Jacqueline Curley, Austin Barton and Eva Barton, his brother Thomas Barton, his sister Mary Barton-Murphy and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family. Hs family is grateful that he found happiness in Florida with many friends but especially Sherry Stewart, Bobby Stump and Bill Tait.

In accordance with Rich’s wishes, there will be no services and his ashes will be buried at sea aboard a United States Navy ship. Donations in Rich’s name may be made to Rolling Thunder Charities Inc., P.O. Box 327, Neshanic Station, N.J. 08853 or Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, P.O. Box 5028, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5028.

DONATIONS:
Donations in Rich’s name may be made to Rolling Thunder Charities Inc., P.O. Box 327, Neshanic Station, N.J. 08853 or Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, P.O. Box 5028, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5028.