Sergeant First Class Anthony Ray Barton, 32, of St. Albans, WV, passed away on December 26, 2012.

Anthony was born in Bluefield, WV on April 25, 1980. He graduated from Big Creek High School in War, where he excelled in football and wrestling and was co-valedictorian of the class of 1998 and continued on to receive an Organizational Leadership degree from Mountain State University.

Anthony was married to Jessica Barton on September 2, 2005 and they were married for seven years. He worked as a Human Resource Sergeant for the WV Army National Guard and had been a member of the WV Army National Guard since December 2001. He served in Operation Iraqi Freedom as a Military Police Officer. He enjoyed playing guitar and riding his Harley. Anthony was actively involved in the New Testament Christian Church where he played guitar.

Anthony was preceded in death by his grandparents, Evans and Alice Barton, his great grandparents, Clarence and Trennie Fowler and Lawrence and Mary Robinette.

Anthony is survived by his spouse, Jessica Barton; children, James Tanner Beckett and Jared Ray Barton; parents, Donald and Mary Barton; sister, Tara Adkins and her husband, Matthew; grandparents, Clinton and Delores Tyree; four nephews, Michael Anthony and Andrew Reid Adkins, Declan Patrick O'Neil and Bodhi Jasper Hines; many aunts and uncles and other family and friends.

The funeral service will be held at 9 a.m., Monday, December 31, at Keller Funeral Home, Dunbar, WV, with Pastor Greg Pettit of New Testament Christian Church officiating. Burial with military rites will be at the Donel C. Kinnard Memorial Veterans State Cemetery at 10 a.m.

Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m., Sunday, December 30, at Keller Funeral Home, Dunbar.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the New Testament Christian Church, 5251 Big Tyler Road, Cross Lanes, WV 25313.