William Russell Barton of Dodson, LA, age 80 years old, entered the presence ofthe Lord, after a long illness on Tuesday, April 18,2023, with his family by his side.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John Lawson and Effie Mae Barton, 4 brothers, Herman and Murrell of Winnfield, LA, Preston of Hattiesburg, MS and Jimmy Ray of Hebert, LA and 2 sisters, Helen Gay Page of Baton Rouge, LA and Jerry Evone Roberts of Jonesboro. La.

He proudly served his Country in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, where he served as an Air Traffic Controller, and came home to meet and many, Sue Ellyn Carpenter. He went on to learn the carpentry trade from his best friend and mentor, his father-in-law, Rev. Lester Carpenter, with a dream to recycle old houses and put them back on the market to sell. Although he referred to it as recycling, it was later referred to as flipping houses. So, he flipped houses in the latter '70's and 80's, before it was called flipping. He bought houses in Winn Parish and LaSalle Parish and sold every house. He also managed rental property during the time and later, sold all his properties.

Later, he owned commercial property, Russ' Fitness Plus Health & Racquetball Club, where he and his son, Rusty, ran an active working gym and Racquetball Court for 10 years in the '90's, then sold the property and was blessed by God to retire at 55 years old.

He was a wonderful father to his two children. He and his wife took their children to see the lower 48 States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean Islands and kept his promise to take his wife, Sue Ellyn, on a second Honeymoon to Las Vegas, Nevada, and to stay in Caesar's Palace at the height of its glory.

He supported his wife, during her singing and recording years, as one of The Carpenter Sisters, and faithfully supported his father and mother-in-law, Rev. Lester and Mrs. Zelma Carpenter for over 50 years in their ministry. He was known as their favorite son-in-law in the family. Every afternoon, for over 50 years, he drank coffee after work and helped Bro. Lester on his cattle farm, whether it was building fences or loading cattle and with any projects where Mrs. Zelma needed help. He kept their yards mowed for years and never complained and any time repairs were to be made for them, he did the job. They were exceptionally close and loved each other dearly. He looked at them as his own Mother and Dad. He worked with them in their ministry in Jamaica that they had conducted for over 37 years, and with the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma for 27 years, not only with financial support, but with the people themselves, and as a builder in churches Bro. Lester built there. And multitudes of time, when Bro. Lester was away, he kept the farm work done, until he returned home.

He was a wonderful husband to his wife. She was a blind date for him, when he was in the Military, and home on leave. He thought she was too young for him but later, when he was Honorably Discharged from the Military, she was grown, and he loved her immediately, he said. They were happily married for over 55 years. She wrote her 2nd book, My Blind Date, about their love story and in his Honor. He was his wife's biggest supporter during her singing and recording years, and encouraged her to write presentations, articles, dramas, and books during those years.

He was a wonderful father to his children,, and doted on them, as long as he lived. He was their confident as well as a best friend to them. He was a terrific grandfather to his grand-children, and they also were his pride and joy. He could be seen playing relentlessly with them, riding them down the road to see a donkey, a horse, or whatever was available. He was their Papa and was the one, they said they loved the most.

He had a very close relationship with his sisters-in-law, and played with them endlessly, treating them as his own sisters for many years. Then later on, he got to know well and loved her equally as much.

A special thank you to Dr. Mark Shelton for caring for him over the years. He gave Dr. Shelton a key to Fitness Plus so he could play racquetball when possible. We especially thank Heart of Hospice and a very special thank you to Cally and Kenny for their loving care, and for Sholeka and Casey as well.

Services will be held on Sunday, April 23, 2023 at 2:00 PM, at East Winnfield Baptist Church and Interment at Union Cemetery under the direction of Southern Funeral Home. Rev. Daniel Rogers will conduct the Services.

Friends may visit with the family at Southern Funeral Home on Saturday, April 22, 2023, from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM.