Burton Oliver Barron ( 1908-2000)

Burton Oliver Barron, he was my grandfather. He was born 04 Jan 1908 Longton Elk Co. Kansas. Died 02 Oct 2000 Corona, Riverside Co. California. He was cremated. He married Hazel Juanita Ruth Roberts 05 Apr 1928 Lola Allen Co. Kansas. They were married for over 50 yrs.  She was born 08 Aug 1910, Ottawa Kansas. Died 04 May 1979 Lake Elsinore, Riverside Co. California. She was also cremated. I believe their ashes were sprinkled over Lake Arrowhead area.

Hazel & Burton Barron ( the happy couple in the middle) 50th Wedding anniversary with their children

Hazel Juanita Ruth Roberts

Burton, Wanda & Duard Barron

Hazel Wanda & Duard Barron

According to the 1930 census records Burton worked as a truck driver in Ozark Township in Anderson Co Kansas. In the 1930s there was the "Great Depression" and the "Dust Bowl" Burton and Hazel was right in the middle of it. There were hardly any jobs, the farms were in ruin due to all the dust storms due to the drought and the lost of the top soil, they couldn't plant anything during that time period. Burton ended up going to California with his brother Roy. He worked in the orange groves in Orange County California at Orange Whole Produce. He work on "New Deal" projects ( New Deal was a program by the federal government to improve infrastructure, build bridges, highways and dams to create jobs) He help build the Prado Dam in Corona Riverside Co California it was completed in 1941.

Prado Dam

Orange Groves Orange Co. California

When Burton was able to make enough money he was able to bring Hazel and the kids to California. I am not too sure exactly when she came to California (I have it down on a note somewhere ) I have them living at in 1947 on Olive Street in Orange and he was still working at Orange Whole Produce. I have him in 1952 working as a machinist for Great Western Cordage until he retired. Hazel worked for Perkins Bakery in 1954. Shortly after she worked for the bakery she was able to get a job at St. Joseph Hospital working as a central supply clerk until she retired.

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Hazel working at St. Joseph Hospital

They moved to Placentia in Orange Co California, and then they moved to Lake Elsinore. They lived in a real nice mobile home and had family gatherings there. Hazel was a fantastic cook; one of her specialties was making divinity candy. (I and another cousin can't seem to make it as well as Hazel could.) She made great pies and cakes. Hazel loved to do needle point and other crafts. Burton loved to make clocks. (I have a backwards clock he made, it all goes backwards) They had a little garden, Hazel loved her roses. She would cut a steam from a rose bush and plant in the ground and place a jar over it and it would grow. (I tried to do this without any luck). Hazel wasn't a very good driver she likes to drive real fast. She had a couple accidents.

Hazel First Crash