Douglas Barron

Rupert Douglas Barron Jr., aka Doug, Sonny, R.D., Doc, Dad, Papa, was born in Amarillo, Texas, on February 11, 1935, to Rupert Douglas and Pauline Chilton Barron. He lived in Amarillo all his life and attended Amarillo High School, where he was a Cheerleader. After graduation in 1953 Sonny joined the Army and served stateside as a medical technician in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. He married Patsy Saunders in Amarillo in 1955; they had three children: Cindy, Rick, and Mandy.

After the Army, Doug attended WT at Canyon, then the University of Houston dental school. Upon graduating in 1966, he moved his family back to Amarillo, where he joined Dr. Shakelford’s practice. Doug practiced dentistry in Amarillo for 32 years until his retirement in 1998.

Sonny married Debbie Denmead in 1974, and they enjoyed 51 years of travel, golf, and family gatherings together. Throughout his life, he could be found spending time with friends and family in Angel Fire, Branson, Indian Wells, or Lake Tawakoni.

To say that Sonny was an avid golfer would be somewhat of an understatement. He was a scratch golfer and could brag of 5 Hole-in-ones. One of his most treasured memories was when Debbie, Rick, and Mandy took him to Pebble Beach to play a round! Sonny also holds the distinction of being the oldest person to take the Bob Cat Pass snowmobile tour when the entire family went to Angel Fire to celebrate his 89th birthday!

Doug was a lifetime member of Paramount/Hillside Christian church. He was a member of several civic organizations, including Khiva Shriners and the Palo Duro chapter of AMBUCS. He was quick with a good joke and loved to hear others' laughter. Ironically, he was a clown with the Shriners! He was very involved in the AMBUCS annual pancake supper and was generally the top ticket seller for that event.

Dr. Barron enjoyed sharing his expertise with the community and served as the primary dentist for Boys Ranch for many years. He also always looked forward to attending the annual rodeo. After retirement, he continued to volunteer his time at the Potter Randall community dental clinic. In his later years, he delivered Meals on Wheels with his daughter, Cindy, and although some say he shouldn’t have been driving at 90, they always made it back home.

Doug is preceded in death by his parents, his sister Doris Robbins Schrader, and his beloved son, Richard Wayne Barron.

He is survived by his wife, Debbie, and his sweet Bichon, Callie, of the home; his daughters, Cindy Miller of Amarillo, Mandy Barron, and daughter-in-law Shelley Barron, both of Dallas; his grandchildren, Ashley Miller of Dallas, Ally (Adam) Greenwood of Amarillo, Bailey Barron (Kyrell) Miller of Dallas, and Mackenzie Miller Helton of Kansas City. He had two and a half great-grandchildren, Swade and Kole Helton of Kansas, and Bailey’s baby, Beau, due in March.

The family requests, in lieu of flowers, donations to the Khiva Shrine,  St. Jude Children's Hospital, or a favorite charity.