Gene Barto

Lawton, Iowa - Gene Barto, 85, of Lawton died Sunday, Oct. 21, 2012, at a Sioux City hospital.
Services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Morningside Church of Christ, with the Rev. Matt Wentz officiating. Burial will be in Arlington Township Cemetery, Moville, Iowa. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a prayer service at 7 p.m., at McCulloch Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Homes in Moville.
Gene was born on Dec. 9, 1926, in Sioux City, the son of Ervin and Elizabeth (Fike) Barto. He grew up near Moville and graduated from Moville High School.
Gene married Pauline Green on Dec. 11, 1953 in Cherokee, Iowa. They made their home in the Moville area. Gene worked as a farmer all his life. He also drove the school bus and enjoyed driving the activities bus. Gene and Pauline moved into Char-Mac Assisted Living in Lawton in 2001. Pauline died on June 17, 2011.
Gene was a member of Morningside Church of Christ. He loved spending time with his family. He always attended his children and grandchildren’s sporting events or any activities that they were involved in. Gene liked singing at church, funerals, weddings and on the radio station. He also enjoyed being the greeter at Char-Mac.
Survivors include a daughter, Janine and Mike Washburn of Lawton; two sons, Jay and Crystal Barto of Kingsley, Iowa, and Jeffrey and Shellee Barto of Moville; nine grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Pauline; grandson, Jayson; brother, Francis; and half sister, Clare Whitford.