When pillars leave us

lsproule@thereview.ca
A small town is like a home but instead of bricks, lumber and mortar, I think instead that a town is made of people.
There are those who are a town’s foundation and those who stand straight and tall and give a town its profile and definition. There are the people who serve as windows on the world and give us a better perspective on ourselves. And there are those who are the cement that holds it all together. There are people who provide power and connect everyone in a positive way to energize and light up a town. And there are the strong people who provide a sturdy shelter from the storms that pass our way from time to time.
Recently, one of our town’s pillars left us. Many of you may have known Delbert Barton personally, but for those of you who are late-comers to our area, you may have seen Delbert at work over the years in his garden, which was right beside the Vankleek Hill Community Centre parking lot.
Delbert passed away on August 21, 2010 at the age of 87 and if you think it inappropriate to call him by his first name, let that idea go.
Delbert’s kind smile, friendly eyes  and unassuming manner made him everyone’s friend.
I made his acquaintance at the Barton home because I attended high school with his daughters. I remember putting in a few hours with Anne one Sunday afternoon as she worked at the family’s service station, known as “Delbert’s Fina”, located right across from Vankleek Hill Collegiate Institute. Delbert’s Fina was an institution in town from 1957 to 1978. Many of you may remember that slower, gentler time – a time when Martin’s, just up the street – and Delbert’s Fina, took turns being open on Sundays.  That way, at least there was a chance for these gas station owners to have every second Sunday off.
I was never part of the legendary euchre games that took place there, but I know that it was a popular place for those who knew Delbert to stop by and catch up on the news, even if Delbert did most of the listening and let others do the talking.
During World War II, Delbert was a motorcycle dispatch rider, travelling thousands of miles, sometimes along dirt roads, cobblestone paths or railway tracks. His nickname was “Buzz” and he enlisted at age 17 with the 17th Duke of York’s Royal Canadian Hussars. His dispatch job brought him close to enemy lines -- running messages through territory unknown to him, often having to find his way in almost-darkness. It was a dangerous job and although he lived to tell the tale, it wasn’t something he spoke of often.
After returning from the war, Delbert worked mostly in construction, including three years on the St. Lawrence Seaway project, as well as being part of the building of Highway 401. At about this time, he met Jean Nicholson; they were married in 1952 and had five children: Alan, Nancy, Anne, Carolyn and Gwen.
After retirement, Delbert had time to become a stalwart fan of Vankleek Hill’s Junior C Cougars, taking up his own position at the corner of the rink for what seemed like every game. And he remembered players’ names, their numbers and their history of injuries. In some ways, in acknowledgement of their biggest fan, it seemed that the junior players became fans of Delbert.
In addition to his love of Vankleek Hill’s Junior C team, Delbert was well-known for being a loyal and long-time fan of the Boston Bruins.  
Always with a ready smile and greeting, it seemed that one just expected Delbert to be forever here, in his back yard, in his garden, driving somewhere with his wife, Jean -- or at the hockey rink.
Up to about six weeks ago, Delbert could have been found weeding his garden. You might see old hockey sticks serving as tomato stakes. Like many of his generation, he wasted little.
Delbert once related that he had lain down in the back of a troop transport and slept for 24 hours straight when the word came down that German had surrendered and the war was over.
Maybe he is resting now, too, leaving behind our little town which is sure to miss his quiet presence.
(With notes from the eulogy given by Delbert Barton’s son-in-law, Darren Jerome. )