James Lawrence Dalton

James Lawrence Dalton died peacefully at home on November 27, 2008. He was born August 22, 1929 in El Dorado, Kansas, to Lawrence and Eunice Dalton. He led a full and meaningful life. His adult life started early, as he went to work in the oil fields at 16, and he later attended college at Texas A&M, the University of Chicago and the University of Texas. He interrupted his studies a couple of times with stints in the US Army and the US Marine Corp, where he spent time at Los Alamos, Pearl Harbor, Japan and other locations. At the University of Texas he was active in student affairs and service organizations, including serving as the Chair of the Campus Blood Drive. As a Texas Cowboy, he shot the first cannon in Memorial Stadium. While with the National Student Association he traveled to Philadelphia, and he met his future wife, Tel. He would agree it was the luckiest day of his life. In 1964, he graduated from the University of Texas Law School. Jim worked for The Texas Department of Mental Health Mental Retardation from 1968 through 1990 and for several years at the Office of General Counsel at the University of Texas System. On the fun side of life, he loved to saltwater fish, especially at Port Aransas, and he had many family vacations there with many a fish story. There are many fond memories of annual family car trips around the US each summer in the family station wagon. He was a great father and a loving husband and he will be sorely missed for his compassion, his love of adventure and just for being him. He is survived by his wife Tel, of 51 years; brother Donald Dalton and wife Belle of Rockport; daughter Laurie and husband Jeff White of Piedmont, California; daughter Susan and husband Dean Jackson of Austin; son John and wife Stacy Dalton of Austin; grandkids Dalton, Claire, Sam, Halle and Graham; and nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends on Monday, December 1, 2008 from 6-8 p.m. at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 3125 North Lamar. Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday, December 2, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. in the Weed Corley-Fish Chapel followed by interment at Austin Memorial Park. Donations may be made to Hospice Austin, 4107 Spicewood Springs Road, Suite 100, Austin, Texas 78759. The family would like to thank Hospice Austin and especially Jim Sockwell, for caring for our father with as much love as he would his own.