Dick began his career working for C&P Telephone of Baltimore while attending Allegany High School in Cumberland, Maryland in 1942. Following his graduation, he worked in cable maintenance, construction, installation & repair and central office maintenance. A promotion brought Dick into the Commercial Department, retiring as the Manager of the Salisbury Commercial/Business Office. During his “telephone” career he worked in Cumberland, Oakland, Hagerstown, Chestertown, and Salisbury.
His outside activities include leadership positions in Chambers of Commerce, Civic Committees, United Way, Rotary Club, American Legion, Masonic and Shrine Lodges, Flying & Soaring Clubs (single engine planes & gliders), Power Squadron, Volunteer Fire Companies, Boy Scouts, the Civil Air Patrol and Committees within the United Methodist Church.
During WWII, Dick served in the 111th Anti-Aircraft Battery as a radio operator with the rank of Sergeant and later in the 589th Combat Engineer Battalion. He continued his service in the Korean Occupational forces. He received an Honorable Discharge in 1946.
He is survived by his loving wife Irene G. Dayton for 73 years; beloved children, Charyl L. Dayton and husband Richard T. Webb, Gary R. Dayton and wife Debra, and Kay I. Messersmith and husband D. Scott; cherished grandfather of Brittany Hargest and husband Brent, Michelle Mauzy, Rebecca Gerald and husband Jordan, Nichole Dayton, Corbett Webb and one great-grandchild Chase Gerald; brother-in-law of June Krimm; Preceded in death by his siblings Jean Serf, Gerald Dayton Kenneth Dayton and Phyllis E. Brooks.
A Memorial Service will be celebrated at Mercy Ridge Retirement Community, 2525 Pot Spring Road, Timonium, Maryland 21093 on Tuesday, March 27, 2018 at 11am.
Interment will be private at the Garrison Forest Veterans Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be may be directed in Mr. Dayton’s memory to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675-8517.
A Guest Book is available at www.lemmonfuneralhome.com
