Tributes

Rae Beth Barton, November 20, 1933 – February 26, 2017 Rae Beth Barton died Sunday in San Antonio, two weeks after heart valve surgery. She was a life-long educator, dedicated follower of Jesus Christ and beloved sister, mother and grandmother. Rae Beth was born in Nacogdoches, Texas to Rayburn and Elizabeth Parrott. She attended Stephen F. Austin University, graduating in 1950. After graduation she taught locally, then moved to Japan to teach English as a missionary with the Methodist Church for three years. In 1964 she met and married Rev. Edwin Barton in New York City. She continued her teaching career in New York and New Jersey and raised their four children. After moving back to Texas, she began teaching in the Northside Independent School District in 1979. She even taught her own son, Paul, in fifth grade. In 1987 she was named principal of Boone Elementary School. Under her leadership, Boone was awarded two Promising Practice Awards by TEA for inclusion programs for children with disabilities in regular classrooms. She truly believed all children would learn better in inclusive classrooms and supported the development of these programs before it was ever a state requirement. She retired from NISD in 1999 not knowing that fifteen years later she would have four grandsons attending Northside schools. Her commitment to education was also demonstrated by her 46 years as a member of P.E.O., a philanthropic organization that raises funds to allow women to continue in their education. Rae Beth was initiated into the P.E.O. Sisterhood in 1971. She was an advocate for the education of women and helping women obtain their dreams. She served as an officer in numerous Chapters through the years. She was a Charter member in the organization of Chapter IT, Fair Oaks Ranch, Texas in 2008. She served as President of Chapter IT from 2012-2014. She was Chairman of the By-Laws committee from 2016-present. She was dearly loved, respected and admired by all her PEO sisters. Rae Beth was also a long-time member of Wayside Chapel, joining with her family in 1981 and continuing to be actively involved for over thirty years. Her faith and belief in Jesus Christ was the foundation for all that she did. Rae Beth loved travel and was able to take a dream trip through the Panama Canal with her husband. She also traveled to Ecuador to visit her son and family twice. Recent highlights included trips to see her granddaughter’s wedding and a Thanksgiving with all of her daughters, granddaughters and four of her great-grandchildren. Rae Beth’s many accomplishments were overshadowed by her pride and love for her family and she will be deeply missed by her sister, Sue (Finley) Vaughn; children Paul (Kim), Priscilla, Kathy and Mary Barton, grandchildren Jessica and Paloma (Matt) Wu, Jian Ketunen, Samuel, Nathan, Josiah and Isaac Barton; great-grandchildren Claire, Jack, Colin and Luke Loveless and Ila Wu-Kutcher. Her husband, Rev. Edwin Barton predeceased her in 2008. Burial will be held at Mission Park Dominion Cemetery at 11 am Monday, March 6, 2017 followed by a memorial service at Wayside Chapel, 1705 NW Loop 410 at 1 pm. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to P.E.O. at www.peointernational.org or Shepherd Support, a ministry that trains pastors overseas, www.shepherdsupport.org.

Tributes

Rae Beth Barton

November 20, 1933 - February 26, 2017