Stafford L. Bolton Sr., 94 passed away on Sunday February 3, 2013. Mr. Bolton was proceeded in death by his loving wife of 69 years, Lillian C. Bolton and son Stafford L. Bolton, Jr. He is survived by his daughters Susan B. Ayres and husband Ronnie of Portsmouth, Va., Beverly B. Dudley and husband Jeff of Garner, N. C., and son Marshall C. Bolton and wife Brenda of Chesapeake, Va., eight grandchildren; Allison Milam, Mark Bolton, Dwain Ayres, Becky Journigan, Ashley Williamson, Tracey Walls, Heather Pope, Jennifer Dudley, and 9 great grandchildren.
Mr. Bolton was a veteran of World War II serving as a fighter pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps in New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand where he earned the American Defense Service Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, and the WWII Victory Medal.
He was employed in 1953 as a salesman for International Harvester Co., and later became Area Supervisor. Mr. Bolton left Harvester Co. and in 1968 began selling logging and milling equipment for McIntyre Equipment Corp., a career he loved until his retirement in 1983.
He was a life time member of Northside Baptist Church where he served on many boards, committees and taught a men’s Sunday School class. His most cherished service for nearly 20 years was with “Men In Ministry” of the Dover Baptist Association, a group of retired men who built wheel chair ramps, repaired roofs, and did countless repairs on homes for those less fortunate. That mission is still active today.
Mr. Bolton was a Master Mason and member of Northside Masonic Lodge #292.
