Delbert Sylvester Barth was born on July 16, 1925, in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. Delbert married R. Lucille Barth on July 10, 1946, and they had four children: Delbert II, Christopher, Deborah, and Diana.

Barth retired from his position as Rear Admiral at the Nevada Test Site but remained at the United States Public Health Service and the Test Manager’s Advisory Panel.

Barth was director of the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s National Environmental Research Center in Las Vegas.