WAYLAND: David Barton, 87, died on Sunday, July 11, 2021, at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston following a brief illness.
He was the beloved and devoted husband for 46 years of Sarah J. (Acton) Barton of Wayland, and loving father of Sarah Elizabeth Barton of Wayland, Rachel Judith Barton of Boston, Ruth Virginia Barton of Northampton, David Barton of East Hampton, NY, Jon Barton and his wife Danielle of Sag Harbor, NY, and the late Stephen Barton. He was the brother of the late Ruth Howell and Grace Smith. He was the grandfather of Ida Grace Fendell; Moses, India, and Hugo Barton of Portland, OR; and Annabelle Rose Barton of Sag Harbor, NY. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
David spent his formative years in Great Britain. He lived in Toronto, Canada, Sag Harbor, NY, and Concord, MA, before moving to Wayland over 45 years ago. He studied at the Royal School Dungannon in Northern Ireland, the University of Toronto, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and Harvard University, where he received a Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology in 1967. He then returned to the University of Toronto to pursue doctoral work in theology. He spent much of his career at Houghton Mifflin Publishing Company of Boston, and retired in 1995 as Vice President, Editor-in-Chief of the College Division. A life-long scholar, David used to quote Charles Williams, saying, “I am everywhere out of place but among books where past voices make canticles of peace.”
He loved spending time with his beloved wife Sarah, whether hiking in the Lake District in England, exploring churches and temples across Europe, or making dinner together in Wayland. David will be very deeply missed.
A memorial service celebrating David’s life will be held on Sunday, July 25, 2021 at 1:00 pm at the Hancock United Church of Christ, 1912 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington, MA 02431. Due to COVID-19 considerations there will be no reception following the service.
In lieu of flowers, his family suggests that gifts in David’s memory be sent to your local food bank.