Constable Joe Glenn Barton, beloved husband, father and friend died, Saturday, Jan. 10, Farmersville. He was 64.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 13, at the
First Baptist Church of Farmersville. Interment will follow at the
Pleasant Grove Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m., Monday, Jan. 12, at the
Hurst's Fielder-Baker Funeral Home.
Born May 5, 1950, Joe was the only child of Joe Ab and Billie Gardner Barton. The family moved to Garland when Joe was a child and joined First Baptist Church of Garland. He graduated from Garland High school in May 1968.
It was through a dispatching job in McKinney that he found his professional calling in law enforcement. He served the McKinney Police Department for 14 years, working his way up in the department. He held the roles of Dispatcher, Patrol Officer, Patrol Sergeant, Detective Sergeant, Lieutenant of Operations and left the department after serving as the Interim Chief of Police.
Barton married Eva Hartsell, on Jan. 14, 1972. The couple settled in Farmersville and five years later welcomed the birth of their only child, Jessica Autumn.
Barton began his career as
Collin County Pct. 2 Constable Jan. 1, 1989. He was re-elected six times and served a total of 26 years in the position up to the day of his death.
Joe joined the Farmersville Rotary Club in 1986. He served as President of the club for one year, earned 22 years of perfect attendance and was presented two Governor's Awards by the District Rotary Governor. Joe believed wholeheartedly in serving others before oneself. He delivered Meals on Wheels in Farmersville for 13 years, served as Chairman for the 2002 Audie Murphy Day event and was Chairman of the Chaparral Rails to Trails committee for 19 years. In 2003, he was named the Farmersville Chamber of Commerce's Harry O. Cameron Citizen of the Year.
Barton was an avid reader, history buff and car enthusiast; the breadth of his knowledge and intelligence never ceased to amaze those who knew him well. He was a loving, supportive and devoted father and husband.
Barton was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Billie Barton of Garland. He is survived by his wife Eva Barton, daughter Autumn Barton and mother-in-law Opal Hartsell all of Farmersville.
He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Farmersville.
