Guy Dalton Jr.

Guy Dalton Jr, seventh child of Guy and Bonnie (Brightwell) Dalton Sr, was born in Royston, GA on May 15, 1933, nine minutes ahead of his twin brother, Joseph. He was educated in local public schools and his early life centered around the family farm, church and baseball.

Guy's spirit departed on June 29, 2020. He was raised Baptist, converted to Catholicism while in the military and dragged to Lutheran services for decades. He had a push-pull relationship with his Creator but he knew God was ultimately in charge and lived a life of openness and generosity. He was pre-deceased by his large loving family of origin, ten children in all, and the party is likely still going on where they met him at the “pearly gates.”

Guy was drafted into military service along with his twin in 1951. He and Joseph served in the Air Force in the same unit during the Korean conflict. Guy was severely injured in frontline battle, received a National Defense Service Medal, and was honorably discharged in 1954. He was forever impacted by his experience and to know him was to hear him proudly refer to himself as a "service connected 100% disabled veteran."

Post discharge, Guy followed his parents and eight of his siblings as they migrated to the Midwest for better job opportunities. He was employed in the automotive supply chain, hospital and custom apparel industries prior to early retirement due to his war injuries. His injuries did not keep him from his favorite pastimes: bowling, baseball (he was a lifetime NY Yankees fan), listening to jazz (especially horn players), tracking congressional hearings, and supervising his neighborhood, whether elected to do so or not.

While working at Grace Hospital he met Mary Loretta Byers when she sold him a movie ticket at the Granada Theater In Detroit, MI. He asked to walk her home from work and so it began. Guy considered himself a "player" and according to him, he had finally met his "playlette." They married in 1965. They have one daughter, Carla Dalton Jackson.

Guy was truly a hands on dad to Carla. They were road dogs, confidants and mutual fans. He shared his fatherly love with so many of his nieces/nephews, grand nieces/nephews, neighbors, Carla's friends, and their children, that he became affectionately known as "Papa Guy." When his daughter married, he heartily welcomed, after an appropriate amount of lecturing, a son, William (Bill) Jackson. In later years, Papa Guy lavished his love and attention on his two grand-daughters, Robin and Haley Jackson, talking about them to anyone who would listen.

Guy never met a stranger. He also never read a word from Maya Angelou, however her quote, "People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel" applies to him perfectly. If you met him, you remember him. Forever entertaining and encouraging, his light and love will be missed by many near and far.