Roll Call Tribute

Mike Barton 

February 10, 1944 - July 24, 2024 

On Wednesday, July 24th, 2024, Mike Barton, a loving husband of 40 years and a devoted father of two children, passed away at the age of 80. Mike was born on February 10, 1944 in Manchuria, China, to Masahide and Fumie Abe. Following the death of his father during WWII, Mike emigrated to the United States from Japan in 1952 after he was adopted by Coy Elmer Barton, an American soldier who had married Mike’s mother. The family was first stationed in Missouri, Coy’s home state.

After learning English while spending time in Missouri with his grandmother Emma and his Uncle Earl, Mike attended school in Thayer, Missouri. From there, they were transferred to France, then back to Louisiana and finally to Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas. It was here that Mike finished high school as a Killeen Kangaroo. He continued his education at Texas A&M University as a member of the Corps of Cadets majoring in wildlife science with a concentration in fisheries biology. After graduation, he was off to OCS and then Viet Nam. He was a proud member of the 9th Infantry Division and was severely wounded in action. He returned from his deployment with a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star for Heroism.

Mike went back to school at the University of Texas in Austin obtaining a second bachelor’s degree in finance and accounting. He also earned his CPA designation and completed Commercial Lending School at the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at SMU. Mike started his career in financial services with Texas Commerce Bank in Houston, TX. He also worked in commercial lending for Bank of America, American Bank, and MBank, all in Austin, TX, before being offered an Executive position at Sandia Federal Savings and Loan in Albuquerque, NM. In 1990, Mike was given an opportunity to return to Austin and work for the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) where he remained the final 26 years of his career leading the Asset Management and Assistance Center.

While he spent the entirety of his career in financial services, his life’s work was in service to his adoring family. Whether coaching or cheering from the sidelines of a soccer field, hosting family gatherings, or tying and baiting fishing lines for his grandchildren in addition to teaching them how to use power tools, Mike was a fervent supporter and caretaker of his family. He cherished every opportunity to instill values of integrity, hard work, perseverance, and a love for life in those he held most dear. He was known to those closest to him for his humility, sacrificial love, quick wit, and love of the outdoors.

Mike was preceded in death by his father, Coy and mother, Fumie. He is survived by his loving wife of 40 years, Linda, son Mark, daughter Allison and their spouses Miquele and Daniel, respectively, along with six beloved grandchildren: Jacob (15), Garrett (13), Parker (9), Amara (5), Kai (3), and Maeve (6 months). He is also survived by his brothers, Mitsuhiro and Jim, their spouses and children and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 2 PM on Saturday, September 7, 2024, at Weed-Corley-Fish in Lakeway (411 Ranch Road 620 S, Lakeway, TX 78734). The family requests that you wear something cool and colorful if you so desire.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Mike’s memory to the Wounded Warrior Project, The Gary Sinise Foundation or a charity of your choice that helps to improve the lives of wounded veterans and their families.