Mr. William (Arthur) Dalton, age 94, of Scottsboro passed away Monday, July 24, 2023 of natural causes. The family had a private gathering hosted by Pastor Ryan Johnson of Agape Baptist Church. Mr. Dalton was the oldest male member of his church and a founding member of the congregation. A memorial service will be at a later date.
Mr. Dalton was born November 1, 1928, in Sylva, North Carolina to the late Beecher and Lola Belle Dalton. He is survived by his wife of almost 73 years, Jean Pannell Dalton of Scottsboro, and 18 members of his family which includes his son, Scott (Marilyn) Dalton of Jasper, Tennessee, daughter, Marsha Wilkes of Flowery Branch, Georgia; along with his four grandchildren Heath (Melissa) Wilkes, Brandi (Gurney) Mashburn, Stephanie (Jason) Hill and Hayli (Dennis) Williams; and his seven great grandchildren, Peyton Hill, Brett Mashburn, Brekelle Wilkes, Macy Mashburn, Jax Hill, Connor Wilkes and Emersyn Williams. He was preceded in death in by his three sisters, Edith Ray of Cumming, Georgia, Frances Dalton and Mildred Dalton both of Sylva, North Carolina; along with his son-in-law, James Wilkes of Flowery Branch, Georgia.
Mr. Dalton and his wife moved to Scottsboro in 1993 to enjoy fishing on Guntersville Lake after retiring from 15 years at Southeast Paper in Dublin, Georgia, where he served as a Foreman Crew Leader. Mr. Dalton previously worked for Mead Paper for 28 years at both its Stevenson and Sylva locations. In retirement, Mr. Dalton taught himself to be a master woodworker, building and gifting beautiful home furniture for family and friends. One of his favorite hobbies was making detailed, church-shaped bird houses, memorial flag shadow boxes and wooden plate holders for members of the Scottsboro community. Mr. Dalton also built needed furniture for his church’s choir and nursery.
Best known as Grandad to his family and Arthur to his many friends, Mr. Dalton’s greatest passion and legacy was kindness. Never too busy for a meaningful conversation with anyone and always leading others by gentle example, Pastor Johnson shared, “Arthur was one of the rare few people in life that was beloved by everyone he met.”
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Agape Baptist Church, 78 Dick Hayes Road, Scottsboro, AL 35769.
