In Memory of

Dorothy

Lee

Dalton

(Harris)

Obituary for Dorothy Lee Dalton (Harris)

Oklahoma City area Viewing & Visitation: 12-8 pm Thursday, August 25, 2022 with family greeting friends from 5-7 pm at Vondel Smith Mortuary South 6934 S. Western Oklahoma City, OK 73139

Bokchito Viewing: The family will gather for viewing & visitation: 1:00 PM Friday at Bokchito Cemetery Pavilion prior to Graveside Services to begin at 2:00 PM

Graveside Services: 2:00 PM Friday August 26, 2022 at the Bokchito Cemetery in Bokchito, OK.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials to the Bokchito Cemetery pavilion improvement in memory of Dorothy Dalton. Bokchito Civic Cemetery, Box 311, Bokchito, OK 74726.

Dorothy Lee Dalton, 93, peacefully departed this life on Sunday, August 21, 2022 at her home in Del City, OK. She was born August 8, 1929 in Bokchito, Oklahoma to her parents, Winnie Mae (Hall) & Ruby Lee Harris. Dorothy graduated from Bokchito High School in 1947, and furthered her education at Southeastern State University (Southeastern State College) where she obtained a BS in Elementary Education and a minor in Home Economics in 1950.
On October 5, 1951, Dorothy married James Robert Dalton in De Queen, Arkansas and shortly thereafter they began their family. In August of 1960, Dorothy & Jim moved their home and family from Bryan County to Del City, Oklahoma where Jim provided for his family as a Construction Superintendent and for their youngest son to attend the OU Speech & Hearing clinic, as opposed to a boarding school for the Deaf. Dorothy put her education to use learning sign language and was a lifetime proponent for the Deaf. In the 1960’s she personally met with the then Governor Henry Bellmon and advocated for establishing Deaf education in the public school system in Oklahoma. She wanted Deaf children to experience education as any other child and not be set apart from society. She was successful. Following that she volunteered her degree, expertise, and time to help implement Deaf education in the Mid-Del School system where she would interpret for Deaf children to acclimate them into school and life.
In 1968, Jim & Dorothy became members of Sunnylane Southern Baptist Church in Del City where she remains a member today. They were instrumental in the planning and building of the current church campus. Dorothy was a gifted seamstress putting her craft to work as part of the Quilting Friends Ministry. They crafted quilts and other sewn goods for charitable organizations in the community. Dorothy was also well known in the church for her culinary skills, especially her baked goods.
Dorothy was a loving wife, devoted mother and grandma (Gigi). She is preceded in death by her parents, sister Dessie Rose, grandson James Lee Dalton Jr, and her husband Jim of 66 years. Dorothy is survived by son, James Dalton and wife Carla of Durant, OK; son Larry Dalton and wife Brenda of Oklahoma City, OK; step-daughter Roberta Dalton Riffe of Houston, TX; grandson Robert Dalton and wife Stephanie of Houston, TX; grandson Jared Dalton and wife Melissa of Moore, OK; grandson Justin Dalton and husband Eric Baer of Oklahoma City, OK; grandson Elijah Dalton of Durant, OK; grandson Joshua Dalton and wife Andrea of Austin, TX; grandson Casey Dalton and wife Brittany of Durant, OK; and great grandchildren Bella Dalton, Clarkson Dalton, Blakelee Dalton, Miles Dalton, Danica Dalton, Ellowyn Dalton, Bennett Dalton, Emre Dalton, and Enora Dalton.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials to the Bokchito Cemetery pavilion improvement in memory of Dorothy Dalton. Bokchito Civic Cemetery, Box 311, Bokchito, OK 74726.