Donald Curtis Milton

In addition to his parents, Don was preceded in death by a sister, Nancy Gerehart Young, and nephew, Dean Craig Gerehart. He is survived by his wife, Delaine Childress Milton; his daughter, Tina Lanier and her husband, Ret. Col. Roy Lanier, of York County; son, Kevin Milton and his wife, Jennifer, of Virginia Beach; four grandchildren, Charlotte Schuff and her husband, Nick, Emma Lanier, Christian Le Milton, and Kelani Milton; a great granddaughter, Juliette Schuff; brothers, Allen Milton and his wife, Janet, of Phoebus, Bryan Milton and his wife, Jill, of Smithfield; sisters, Pam Meadows and her husband, Jim, of Poquoson, Amy Huskey and her husband, Bubba, of Poquoson; along with many cherished nieces and nephews.

Don was a lifelong resident of Hampton where he graduated from Hampton High School, Class of 1964.

Following graduation, he married his high school sweetheart and life-long companion, Delaine Childress.

They celebrated 59 years of marriage in February. Don earned his Fire Science Degree from Thomas Nelson Community College and served the City of Hampton for 25 years, retiring as Captain of Hampton Fire Station No. 1.

Don was always very industrious. During his time at the Hampton Fire Department, Don and Delaine owned a lawn maintenance business. It was common to see both Don and Delaine whipping around on their industrial mowers, splitting the job, and reconvening on the other side of a building. They held contracts from apartment complexes and community common areas to private residences. Being a thoughtful husband, he treated the love of his life to a ski trip in Austria with their friends, complete with an unforgettable stop in Iceland during a blizzard!

Don was an avid fisherman. When he wasn't at the fire station, he could be found out on the water in his boat "Kelly Days" catching Doormats. He loved fishing, crabbing, clamming, and raising oysters. After retiring, Don seized every opportunity to enjoy the outdoors. He especially loved to spend time fishing with his son, Kevin, and his firefighter buddies. He had a very generous nature, often sharing his haul with friends after a day of crabbing. He was always grateful to Delaine for cooking his favorite dish, crabcakes. Don's appreciation of nature gave them many cherished hours together watching birds, ducks, raccoons, squirrels, and even deer, which they fed daily. Most of all, he was dedicated to caring for his beloved dogs and cats.

Don was incredibly devoted to his family. He expressed his love through his God-given gift; he was a true craftsman and a competent mechanic. He applied his talents to renovating the 1903 family home, as well as helping his brothers build their own homes. Whether it was constructing a house or repairing major mechanical car issues, Don was always there with tools in hand, whenever needed. His love for his family took him and Delaine on many memorable trips throughout the U.S. to visit their daughter, Tina, and her family when they were stationed at new locations. These trips included adventures in Yellowstone, The Grand Canyon, and The Canyons of Utah, days spent at Disney World with grandchildren, and even a little gambling on the Las Vegas Strip!

Finally, Don was a good friend. As a member of the Colonial Shag Club, the friendships he made were undoubtedly special and long-lasting. He delighted in making everyone, especially his grandchildren, laugh out loud with his antics. He will be missed, but he will surely continue to be remembered and loved every day.

Don's family will have a celebration of his life on Friday, March 8, 2024. Visitation is at 12:30 p.m. at Parklawn-Wood Funeral Home and Memorial Park, 2551 N. Armistead Ave., Hampton. Rev. Dylan Lebakken will preside over the memorial service at 1:30 p.m. Those who wish to remember Don may make gifts in his memory to the nonprofit Alzheimer's Association (www.alz.org).