Dr. Arlis Dale Barton

Dr. Arlis Dale Barton, 72, of Dover, AR, passed away on September 12 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Russellville, AR.

Dr. Barton was born in 1954 in Russellville to A.G. and Bettye Barton. He was raised in Dover and graduated from Dover High School in 1972, having played both basketball and baseball. He spent a year on a baseball scholarship at the University of Arkansas before transferring to Arkansas Tech University, earning a degree in chemistry in 1976. He then attended medical school at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, earning his MD in 1980. After completing his family practice residency in 1983, Dr. Barton began his career at the Millard Henry Clinic in Atkins. He later moved to the Millard Henry Clinic in Dover, retiring in 2023 after 40 years of patient care.

A passionate whitewater canoeist, Dr. Barton paddled across the United States and Costa Rica. He was recognized nationwide as a legendary paddler who achieved several “first descents” (the first known person to paddle a river) during his career. These included the first single open-boat run of Big Devil’s Fork Creek, the Long Devil’s side of Twin Falls, Indian Creek below Eye of the Needle into the Buffalo River, and the Falling Water Cascade at Falling Water Falls. As his friend Tsunemi Yamashita said, “Dale was . . . regarded as the best solo canoeist in Arkansas, with many adventures and first descents of class IV creeks in a solo boat under his belt, open boating the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon to boot.”

Dr. Barton and his daughter competed in open-boat whitewater slalom races during the 1980s and 1990s, winning both national and international events. They hosted a team of Russian paddlers at their home for a month after competing in the 1990 Project RAFT Races on the Nantahala River in North Carolina. Dr. Barton and his wife, Pam Waldo Barton, were early members of the Arkansas Canoe Club and founding members of the ACC's Piney Creeks Chapter.

Dr. Barton and Pam cultivated an expansive circle of friends, whom they hosted annually for over 25 years at their Newton County farm for a Halloween party they called “Harvest Fest.” Two generations of children were entertained at the B-Paddling Ranch, where hundreds of friends camped, hiked, and enjoyed the land.

Dr. Barton was a voracious reader who often finished multiple books a week. He was also a devoted fan of Arkansas Razorback sports, especially basketball.

Dr. Barton is survived by his father, A.G. Barton of Dover; his wife of 53 years, Pamela Waldo Barton, also of Dover; his daughter, Shelle Barton Stormoe, and son-in-law, Jason, both of Little Rock; Jason’s mother, Sharon Stormoe, of Hatton, North Dakota; his brother, Boyd, and wife, Fe, of Dover; several nieces and nephews living in Dover and across the country; and countless friends and colleagues. He was preceded in death by his mother, Bettye Wilson Barton; his parents-in-law, Mildred Opal Light Waldo and Garland H. Waldo, formerly of Dover; and Jason's father, Darrell Stormoe, formerly of Hatton, North Dakota.

A memorial service will be held at Humphrey Funeral Home in Russellville at 7:00 PM on Wednesday, September 23. Visitation will begin at 6:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the A.G. and Bettye Barton Scholarship Fund by mailing a check to 545 Bayou Ridge Road, Dover, AR 72837.

Dr. Barton’s internet obituary and online guestbook are available at www.humphreyfuneral.com