Dalton Smith of Morrisburg passed away peacefully at home, with his loving family by his side, on Friday, March 8, 2013, at the age of 83.
Dalton was born July 21, 1929, the oldest of eight children, to his parents Howard and Lena Smith who were living north of Morrisburg on Smith Road where they farmed crops and livestock. Dalton married Wilma Willard, a marriage which would last for 63 years.
Until his mid-teens, Dalton attended area schools and helped on the family farm.
He worked briefly at the tack factory in Morrisburg before beginning his career with George Beavers at Beavers Dental Products, where he trained under a master machinist. It was during this time that he took courses in diesel engineering and furthered his education.
George Beavers was a huge influence in Dalton’s life….he was Dalton’s mentor and friend. Dalton travelled for the company and visited many countries. Beavers Dental Products eventually exported to 85 different countries, so Dalton was kept very busy travelling and promoting the company.
After 47 years at Beavers Dental Products, Dalton retired but still worked in the capacity of a consultant. He was then able to spend more time with the family he cherished and loved.
Dalton’s retirement was rich with events and wonderful living.He enjoyed golfing, fishing, his art, rock-hunting and his family. He and Wilma travelled the North American continent and the world, visiting many countries and returning home with stories of Pyramids in Egypt, the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem and the Parthenon in Greece.
In 1989, the Canadian government, a department called CESO (Canadian Experts Serving Overseas), recruited experts in their respective fields to increase awareness of dental products and help set up a plant in the city of NingBo, China.
Dalton was highly qualified for this work as he had invented many machines for the manufacture of dental drills and burrs.
He had collaborated in the making of 16 new shapes of drill burrs which are today used in the dental industry worldwide. Having spent several years living between NingBo and Morrisburg, he grew to love all things Asian and admired the people and their culture.
Dalton constantly challenged himself over the years and walked down many different paths.
Dalton loved to skate and played hockey with the Morrisburg Jr. B hockey team in the 1940’s. Dalton and Wilma could often be seen enjoying a skate at the local rink on a Saturday night. He was heavily involved in real estate.
One of Dalton’s hobbies, briefly, was bonsai. His miniature creations were breath-taking and artfully nurtured and trimmed.
Dalton also learned to paint as a hobby and took art lessons from a noted artist in Maine. He was an avid reader and a tenor with the Seaway Singers. Dalton served on the board of CCAC (Community Care Access Center) and was trained as a companion to hospice patients.
Dalton had a gift of being interested in life. He could discuss anything with anyone and loved to have new topics to research and talk about.
Through his changing interests in life, Dalton never lost interest in gemology and geology. In his early thirties, he always loved being outdoors and exploring Ontario. He made rock tumblers and tumbled rocks and fashioned jewellery.
He loved developing things and inventing things…and creating new tools for any specific job he needed to do. Dalton loved to restore vintage items and do carpentry and could always see past the rust on an old iron filigreed bench and chairs acquired at a yard sale.
Dalton was the cherished father of Susan (Lynn) Estes of Las Vegas, Nevada, Debra Rowe of Trenton and Nancy (Alex) Schaillee of Glen Becker.
He was the loving grandfather of Geneviere (Jeff) Blaney of Cumberland, Jessica Deschamps of Trenton, Nathan (Olivia) Strager of Las Vegas, Nevada, Tom Robertson of Orleans, Benjamin and William Schaillee, both of Glen Becker and 10 great- grandchildren.
He was dear brother of Mary Molson of Cardinal, Margot Hazelaar of Ottawa and Patsy (Lionel) McAllister of Cornwallis, NS.
Dalton was predeceased by daughter Ann-Marie Telford, sister Velma Forron, brothers Carl, Ronald, infant sister Bonnie Smith, parents Lena and Howard Smith and son-in-law Alan Rowe.
Dalton was blessed with caring and loving friends. During the past few years and with failing eyesight, his fabulous friends and several really close buddies kept him constantly occupied. The family will always be grateful for the wonderful care of Doctor Coolican for providing amazing medical care and support.
Dalton was a man who loved life, who was gentle and then strong, who loved his family and friends and God and his community and frankly, all of humankind.
Friends were received at the Parker Funeral Home, Morrisburg on Friday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. The Memorial Service was held at Lakeshore Drive United Church, Morrisburg on Saturday, March 23, 2013 at 11 a.m. Spring inurnment Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Morrisburg.
Memorial donations to the Morrisburg Pentecostal Tabernacle or Dundas County Hospice will be gratefully acknowledged.
Condolences may be made at www.parkerofmorrisburg.com
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