Wallace A. Dalton

DALTON, Wallace A. "Wally", of Sun City Center, Florida passed away at 6:03PM on December 30, 2016, one month shy of his 97th birthday. Wally was born on January 31, 1920 in Corbin, KY to Arthur and Jenny Dalton. He spent much of his childhood years in Middlesboro, KY. He and his wife, Norma, have spent the last nearly 30 years enjoying the "good life" in Florida. From his humble beginnings in Middlesboro KY to his death Wally was able to impact so many people and accomplish amazing things for someone with little formal education, never finishing more than the 8th grade. His ability to work with his hands and mind allowed him to not only become an extremely talented welder but also to establish a successful steel fabrication business. Even in his later retirement years of life he could be heard cutting and grinding and sanding on some project from his modest 2-car garage. He was always busy working on some project in his garage nearly up to the day he died. Wally's difficult childhood years, in an orphanage, as a hobo, moved from relative to relative, did not prevent him from becoming a good father, a good husband, and a good provider. In 1941 he married Betty Davis of Barboursville, KY. At about the same time he was drafted into the armed forces where he spent 4 years serving in the Army, mostly in the Philippines. He and Betty eventually gave birth to 4 girls and 1 boy. By the mid 50's he, his wife, and the 5 children settled in Dayton, OH where he found work as a welder in the tool and die industry. Wally worked long hard hours to make ends meet in support of his family. As a result, he became a specialist at all types of welding processes. In the mid 70's he and his brother, Doug Dalton, started their own steel fabrication business in Dayton. Dalton Brothers Inc became known in southern Ohio as the only place to go for top-notch, high quality, fabrication work. Wally and Doug built the company into a very successful small business that provided services ranging from heavy steel fabrication to the joining of small intricate exotic materials. Wally was a master at his work while at the same time supervising the employees, expecting from them the same hard work ethic that he had. The company was so successful that by the mid 80's he was able to sell and retire to enjoy the fruits of all his hard work of so many years. Sadly, in 1979, his wife Betty passed away. In 1980 he married his friend and associate Norma Buck. They then began that "snowbird" period of life spending every winter at their home in Winter Haven, FL then finally settling permanently in the Kings Point community in Sun City Center, FL. He became a very good golfer and was able to play the game into his early 90's, often shooting an 18-hole round with a score less than his age! Wally was preceded in death by his parents, by his first wife Betty, by his first child Donna Miller-Bassett, of Sarasota, FL., and by his brother Doug. He leaves behind his wife Norma, his sister Dorothy Abner in Alabama, and four surviving children, Terry Mayne of Kettering, OH., Sandra Bates of Lexington, KY., Jean Rogers of Lexington, KY., and Joseph Dalton of Sun City Center, FL. In addition to his 5 children Wally also had some 40+ grand, great-grand, and great-great-grandchildren. Wally will be remembered as the funny, witty, hard-working father and husband who, in his later years, loved to build miniature houses, cars, wagons, and carnival rides. He loved music and was quite the dancer. He also became a very accomplished painter with many of his paintings adorning the walls of his home and the homes of his children. A simple remembrance service for Wally will be held at 2PM on January 14, 2017 at the Family Funeral Home in Sun City Center, FL. Family and friends are welcome to attend.