Karen Sue Barton

Karen Sue (Winter) Barton, age 83, died on September 26, 2026, in Edmond, Oklahoma, where she resided for the past 43 years. Karen was born in Okeene, Oklahoma, to Elmer and Elizabeth (Kuxhaus) Winter. She graduated from Okeene High School in 1960 as Valedictorian of her class.

She then attended Enid Business College, and after graduating, she attended Central State College, now the University of Central Oklahoma, where she was a dorm counselor in the girls’ freshman dormitory. While attending Central State College, she met the love of her life, Bud Barton. They met on the tennis court on April 17th, 1964, and it was the first time that either of them had ever played tennis. It was love at first sight. They were married on August 6, 1966. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in business education in January 1965.

They had two sons, John and Mark, and she was a stay-at-home Mom while her boys were young, enjoying many activities with them at church and school. After they were both in school, she returned to work for Sohio Petroleum Company, where she remained until 1988. She then worked for Cities Service (now OXY USA, Inc.) until the end of 1995. After that, she enjoyed retirement with Bud, who joined her in retirement in 1999. Together they shared many activities in their retirement. They belonged to the First United Methodist Church of Edmond and the Good News Sunday School Class.

Some of their favorite activities were traveling, church functions, photography, genealogy, collecting stamps and coins, taking walks in their neighborhood, enjoying Elvis Presley's songs, and playing senior volleyball. She also enjoyed gardening and doing the daily Sudoku in the newspaper.

She enjoyed genealogy and was a member of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia (AHSGR). All of her relatives on her father's and mother's sides were Germans who went to Russia in the mid-1700s and came to America in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her older sister, Fae Watts.

She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Bud; their two sons, John and Mark; her sister, Arlene Pope; her daughter-in-law, Katie; her grandchildren, Pierce, Bodhi, and Ocie; and many nieces and nephews.

Public viewing will be held on Thursday, October 1, 2026, from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. with family present from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Matthews Funeral Home in Edmond, OK,

Funeral Services for Karen Sue Barton will be held at Edmond First United Methodist Church in Edmond, OK on Friday, October 2, 2026 at 10:00 a.m., with burial to follow beginning at 2:30 p.m. at Bierig Cemetery in Okeene, OK.

We will be live streaming this service, to watch the service CLICK HERE.