Edward Lyle Dalton Jr.

Edward Lyle Dalton, Jr passed on from this life peacefully on February 15, 2022. In his last hours, Ed was surrounded with love from his wife of 54 years, Rachel and children, Hilary and Edward III.

Ed as he was known by friends, was born in October 05, 1942 to loving parents Edward Lyle and Marietta Potts Dalton. Ed and his sister, Ellen, were raised in a loving home in St Petersburg. There were stories of Ed always in, on and around the water of Tampa Bay. He is best known for his slalom water skiing abilities. He often seemed to get into trouble for his wicked sense of humor. His love of animals was seen at an early age and continued throughout his life feeding and caring for all kinds of pets.

Ed was a proud graduate of St Petersburgh High Class of 1960. He continued his education at the University of South Florida where he met this beautiful intelligent young lady Rachel in 1965. They were married in 1968 and relocated to the other side of the Bay. They raised their two children in the Rocky Point part of Tampa. The life on the water often revolved around waterskiing, boating, and fishing with the entire family.

Ed was instrumental in leading Photoengraving, Inc for almost 40 years. He took over the family business in 1965 and grew it into a national market leader of aluminum can printing industry. He envisioned the aluminum can as a key marketing piece of the beverage industry advertising campaigns. His improvements to the printing process made Photoengraving partners of to Fortune 500 companies like Anheuser Busch, Molson-Coors, Coke, Millers, and Pepsi. He earned his first patent in chemical engineering of metal plates in printing business in 1980. Photoengraving had the privilege to work in George Lucas’s Star Wars Series. His trusted partners at Photoengraving were his loving wife, children and loyal longtime employees. His family has fond memories of trips with Ed to visit customers. Ed taught his children the art of successful business. He had his children read all the Dale Carnegie books especially, “How to Win Friends & Influence People.” In 2008, he introduced cutting edge laser technology to the ink printing industry by purchasing specialized equipment from Belgium to etch printing plates of cans to create realistic 3D graphics. The company was truly an American small business success story. Ed led the effort for Photoengraving to be sold in 2011.

In his retirement, Ed had many interests, but none more than being an inspiration to his grandchildren, George, Carolina, and Catalina and grand nephews, Cooper and Crosby. Ed is watching over his two grandchildren who proceeded him to Heaven, Michael and Mitchell. Ed’s kindness and humor will be deeply missed. In lieu of flowers, donations in his honor can be made at Humane Society of Tampa Bay. The viewing will be held at Blount & Curry Funeral Home-MacDill Avenue at 4 to 6pm on February 21st, 2022. A service will be held at Blount & Curry Funeral Home-MacDill Avenue on February 22, 2022 at 12pm. Thank you for your support and condolences, we are very grateful.