Lewis Jerome Barton

Lewis Jerome Barton, a dedicated physician, devoted husband, and loving father, passed away on August 28, 2026, just days shy of his 87th birthday.

Born on September 2, 1939, in Manassa, Colorado, Lewis spent his first 16 years navigating the hardships of life in the rural towns of southern Colorado. These early challenges forged a profound resilience and work ethic that would define the rest of his life. He and his mother later relocated to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he graduated from Highland High School in 1957.

Lewis began his higher education studying electrical engineering at the University of New Mexico. It was during this foundational chapter of his life that he married the love of his life, Suzanne “Suzy” Lloyd, in 1959. Together, they embarked on a beautiful, lifelong journey of 67 years.

Driven by a desire to heal others, Lewis shifted his focus to medicine. The couple moved to Salt Lake City, where Lewis attended the University of Utah School of Medicine. In 1962, alongside the demands of his medical education, Lewis answered the call to serve his country by joining the Air National Guard, a commitment he honored for seven years.

Remarkably, he stood at the top of his class during every single one of his four years of medical school, a testament to his sharp intellect and unwavering dedication. The medical school years also brought immense personal joy, including the birth of their first daughter, Laura Barton (Livnat), in 1963. The following year, Lewis graduated top of his class in 1964. He earned the prestigious Paul Wintrobe Memorial Award—a high honor presented to the outstanding graduating senior based on character, scholastic attainment, and promise for the future—as well as the Roche Award, a frequent distinction given by medical schools to recognize stellar graduating students. He was also inducted into the esteemed Alpha Omega Alpha honor medical society.

After completing his internship and the first year of his residency at the University of Utah, Lewis and Suzy moved to Dallas, Texas. There, he completed his residency at Parkland Memorial Hospital, which served as the primary teaching facility for the adjacent University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. He then went on to finish a prestigious two-year fellowship in Nephrology at UT Southwestern. While living in Texas, their family grew with the birth of their son, Jeffrey Evan Barton, in 1967.

In 1969, Lewis’s exceptional talents were recognized by his former mentor, Dr. Paul Wintrobe, who offered him a teaching position at the University of Utah Medical School, bringing the family back to Salt Lake City. The family was made complete in 1970 with the birth of their third child, Christine Barton (Slay).

In 1972, Lewis chose to transition into private practice, specializing in internal medicine and nephrology. For over three decades, he built a highly successful practice, providing compassionate, life-saving care to countless patients until 2006. It was during this fulfillment of his life’s work that he truly knew he was in the right place, once sharing in a direct quote, “I am doing exactly what I was meant to do.” Not one to fully step away from his profession, he semi-retired but continued to serve his community as a medical consultant with the Social Security Administration Disability Services.

Beyond his professional achievements, Lewis was a passionate outdoorsman who found deep fulfillment in nature. Throughout the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, he embraced the spectacular landscape of his home state, frequently spending his free time bird hunting with his friends, and backpacking, hiking, river running, skiing, and camping with his family across the vast beauties of Utah. A particular highlight of these wilderness adventures was a memorable backpacking trip he went on in the Wind Rivers with his wife and two daughters.

Lewis retired fully in 2025. He and Suzy spent his final year exactly as they had spent the previous six decades—side-by-side, enjoying life and the enduring legacy of the family they built together. Lewis leaves behind a legacy of brilliant medical service, military duty, a deep love for the outdoors, and profound devotion to his family.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Eva Barton; his brother, Dennis Barton; and his son, Jeffrey Evan Barton.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Suzy; his children, Laura Barton (Livnat) and Christine Barton (Slay); his cherished grandchildren, Lauren Barton, Lindsey Barton, Dan Livnat, and Brenden October Slay; and his close nephew, James Barton.

In lieu of flowers, Lewis would encourage a donation to your local animal shelter and rescue.