FARMINGTON – Leslie Manning Harton, 70, of Farmington, died Saturday, Nov. 18, at Franklin Memorial Hospital, from leukemia.

He was born Sept. 19, 1936, in Charlotte, N.C.. son of Thomas Baxter Harton Sr. and Emily Hatton Mathis. He was educated in Charlotte, N.C., prior to entering the Air Force in 1955. He received associate degrees from Community College of the Air Force and Merced College, Calif. and his bachelor’s degree from Thomas Edison College, N.J.

He served in the U.S. Air Force for 26 years as an in-flight refueling specialist on KB-29s, KC-97s and KC-135s, stationed in California, New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire and Maine. After his military retirement, he managed the recreational flying club at McGuire AFB, N.J., for four years and then entered civil service as a base operations dispatcher, prior to becoming the chief, Airfield Management at McGuire AFB for 10 years, retiring in December 1998.

Les was an elder at the Fairbanks Union (Presbyterian) Church and was active in Mission at the Eastward’s North Parish Housing Ministry and South Africa Partnership. He was also active in many organizations including the Farmington Historical Society, the Friendship Squares Dance Club, Gold Leaf Institute, the Gideons International, Air Force Association, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Sergeants Association, Civil Air Patrol and the In-flight Refueling Association.

He is survived by his wife, Frances (Akerley) Harton; sons, Dr. Jonathan Harton, and his wife, Janna and their sons, Joshua and Jeremy of Albany, N.Y. and James Harton of State College, Pa.; his twin brother, Ben S. Harton, and wife, Frances, of Charlotte, N.C.; his sisters, Ethel Lenz, and husband, Alvin, of New Port Richey, Fla. and Isabelle Hudson of Charlotte, N.C.; and 21 nieces and nephews.

Besides his parents, he was predeceased by brothers, Norman B., John W., Thomas B. Jr., Charles E. and Jack P.; and sister, Emily.