Obituary of David Lawrence Barton

DAVID LAWRENCE BARTON David Lawrence Barton passed away on January 4, 2014, at Inova Fairfax Hospital, in Falls Church, VA. He was born on December 12, 1954, in Washington, DC, and grew up in Springfield, VA. David graduated from the College of William and Mary in 1976 with a BA in Mathematics with a Computer Science option. He earned an MS in Computer Science from Maryland University in 1984 and pursued PhD-level studies in Computer Science at the University of Toronto under Dr. Eric Hehner from 2009-2011. At the time of his death he was studying psychology at George Mason University. Upon graduation from college David worked as a singer and actor at the Mosby Dinner Theatre in Leesburg, VA, in such productions as Oklahoma and Man of La Mancha. For most of his professional life, David was deeply involved in the development of languages for representing, verifying, and synthesizing hardware and software systems. He designed programs which ran some of the first graphic digitization and text to speech. His subsequent work was integral to the development of logical languages which drove the emergence of digital electronics, and which continue to power projects for NASA and the DoD today. David's personal struggle with chronic migraine led him to explore alternatives for pain management, spurring an interest in the workings of the mind. He became a hypnotist certified through the National Guild of Hypnotists, and led sessions on hypnotic language at national conferences. Frequently published in technical journals, his writing took a creative turn in later life, leading to online essays, short stories, scripts, and a novel manuscript. Computer-language pioneer, hypnotist, writer, actor and singer, culinary artist, Eagle Scout, and member of the Sufi Tradition.... David's creative disposition and talents, lifelong love of learning, and broad interests led to his richly varied career. Known for a brilliant and perceptive mind, he was treasured for his kindness and generosity of spirit. David is survived by his wife Marion M. "Marnie" Montgomery of Leesburg, VA; his mother Patricia Ann Barton of Lansdowne, VA; his siblings Douglas Edward Barton, Kathleen Victoria Barton, Michael Victor Barton, Nancy Jane Barton and their families; nieces Marguerite Rose Barton, Faith Victoria Barton, Kelsey Ann Barton; and a host of friends and colleagues. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, January 18, at St. James' Episcopal Church, 14 Cornwall Street NW, Leesburg, VA 20176. Memorial contributions in his name may be made to the Migraine Research Foundation, 300 East 75th St, Suite 3K, New York, NY 10021 (www.migraineresearchfoundation.org); The Salvation Army of Loudoun County VA, P.O. Box 47, Leesburg, VA 20178, (virginiasalvationarmy.org/loudouncountyva); or Loudoun Interfaith Relief, 750 Miller Drive SE, Suite A-1, Leesburg, VA 20175 (www.interfaithrelief.org).