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Barton Lee Templeton, 68, of Dewey, died Friday in Tulsa.
Barton was born the son of Herman Willis Templeton on February 3, 1948, in Bartlesville. He was raised in the Cotton Valley area attending grade school there before transferring to Copan High School. While in high school he was active in FFA and showed livestock, graduating in 1964. Barton met Teresa while she was cheerleading for one of Copan's football games and he offered her a ride home after the game and the rest is history. They were united in marriage on December 30, 1966, in Copan at the Baptist church.
Shortly after their wedding, Barton was drafted and served in the U.S. Army infantry during the Vietnam War from '67 to '69 with the LRRP Patrol pronounced "LURP" or Long-Range Reconnaissance Patrol. Barton's first child was born while he was in Vietnam and after his honorable discharge he returned home to his family. He worked with his father-in-law building custom fences and hauling hay before starting his career with TRW Reda Pump for 13 years.
In 1986, Barton opened Barton and Todd's Tire Repair on Hwy. 75 north of Dewey. His tin man sculpture and sign has become iconic with travelers passing by. In the early days it wasn't a tin man but Fred the metal man, and Barton would dress Fred in his old clothes till Barton lost weight and the clothes were too small for Fred. Then came the idea to turn him into the Tin Man.
Barton loved to work and build things with his own two hands. Nothing was ever junk to him but part of his inventory of useful odds and ends. He loved his cows and named most of them according to their personality. His bull was tame and loved to eat out of Barton's hand but they had to be careful since the bull would sometimes poke its head through the truck window looking for a treat. As a younger man Barton loved to camp and fish from his boat at Skull Creek on Hulah Lake. Once they camped for 52 days, but camping wasn't Teresa's cup of tea and she went along out of love. He was a loving husband and a good father, teaching his children many important life skills that have greatly enhanced their lives.
Barton is survived by his loving wife of the home Teresa; three children, Jenifer Brown of Muskogee, OK, Todd Templeton and Connie of Dewey, and Lynn Templeton and Alicia of Copan; 12 grandchildren, Jourdin, Nathan, Sara, Adrianna, Anna, Amy, Jamie, Kyra, Kaci, Colt, Kaden and Kanin; and one great grandchild Jaycoree. He is preceded in death by his parents; two sisters Lillie Sue Lester and Linda Blevins; and niece Pam Mills.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made in Barton's name to the St. Jude's Children's Hospital.
No formal services are planned. Arrangements are under the direction of Carter Davis and the Davis Family Funeral Home.
Online condolences and remembrances may be shared with Barton's family at www.DavisFamilyFuneralHome.com.
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