Eddie Barton

Eddie Lee Barton, age 72, of Kempner, Texas, passed away on April 24th, 2023 at the VA Hospital in Temple, Texas.

Burial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 4th, 2023 at the Central Texas Veterans Cemetery in Killeen, Texas.

Eddie Lee Barton was born in Delaware, Ohio to Aaron Dale Barton and Marjorie Jean (McElhinny) Barton, on May 20th, 1950.  He graduated in 1968 from Delaware Hayes High School, in Delaware, Ohio.

Eddie served as a Green Beret in the United States Army from 1968-1973 and was stationed in Germany as well as Vietnam during the Vietnam War.

Eddie is preceded in death by his parents, Aaron Dale Barton and Marjorie (Barton) London, his brother, Ernie Barton, and his Uncle and Aunt, Billy and Betty McElhinny.

Eddie is survived by his soulmate, Mai Shidell, of Kempner, Texas.  Eddie fell in love with Mai the moment they met while he was serving in Vietnam and they were engaged to be married before Eddie was ordered back stateside half a world away with no way to return. Despite spending 52 years apart, Eddie and Mai’s love for each other never faded and after recently reuniting, Eddie’s dream came true when he moved from Tempe, Arizona to Kempner, Texas to spend the rest of his life with Mai. Unfortunately, God did not allow them to live out their love story for very long before calling his son home; however, Eddie’s love for Mai transcends death and there is no doubt he is, and forever will be, by Mai’s side until the end of time just as he promised.

Eddie is survived by his two children, Alicia Renee Barton and Eddie Dale (Laura) Barton of Wickenburg, Arizona, along with 6 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

Eddie is also survived by 3 Siblings, Beverlee (Luther) Coffee, Rex (Denise) Barton and Brenda (Keith) Church, along with 2 nieces, 2 nephews and 3 cousins, all residing in Ohio.