Rachel Elizabeth Barton, 95, of Point Pleasant, WV passed away March 16, 2018. Rachel was born May 18, 1922 in Kanauga, Gallia County, OH, daughter of Pearl Andrew and Margaret Virginia "Maggie" Burns Reynolds.
Rachel moved to Point Pleasant with her family as an infant and was a Point Pleasant resident for the remainder of her life. She graduated from PPHS in 1940 and worked at Kroger as a cashier. There she met Billy Barton who became the love of her life. They married on July 24, 1946 and celebrated 69 years of marriage prior to his passing on August 30, 2015. By 1948 Rachel left Kroger to spend her life raising, loving, and shaping the lives of their four children, nine grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. Beyond providing a safe and comfortable home, she tutored, taxied, doctored, and advised. Rachel was always there to listen and offer Christian counsel. She showed her family what Christian love and living looked like.

Rachel's priorities in life were God and her family. Rachel was a longtime active member of Trinity United Methodist Church where she taught Sunday School for over 42 years. If she taught an average of only five students a year that would be 210 children's lives she touched with her teaching and belief in Christ.
Many of these former students sent her cards during her recent illness, prompting her to share Sunday School class memories, and giving her great comfort.

Rachel was predeceased by her husband, Billy M. Barton; her parents, Pearl and Margaret "Maggie" Burns Reynolds; her brother, Paul Reynolds; her half-brothers, Eddie Dunlap and Robert Dunlap; all of Point Pleasant, WV; and half-brother Everett Reynolds, of Columbus, Ohio.

Rachel is survived by three sons and their wives, Gary and Donna Barton of Scott Depot, Ronnie and Sandi Barton of Ravenswood, Billy Joe and Karen Barton of Leon; daughter, Kimberly Barton of Columbus; nine grandchildren and their spouses, Jamie (Mendy) Barton, Heather (Colan) Sturgeon, Shane (Elizabeth) Barton, Tracy (Simon) Copley, Lezlie Barton, Autumn (Scott) Pittman, Brooke Barton Young, Travis Barton, Billy Aaron Barton; and four great-grandchildren, Jenna and Jacey Sturgeon, Jakob Higginbotham, and Brooklyn Johnson.

A graveside service was held Monday, March 19, 2018, at Sandhill (Suncrest) Cemetery in Point Pleasant with Rev. James Kelly officiating.
In lieu of flowers, to honor Rachel and Bill Barton's many years of Christian service and teaching, please make donations to Trinity United Methodist Church, 615 Viand Street, Point Pleasant, WV 25550 and put "Rachel & Bill Barton" in the memo line to support the church's Sunday School program.