Paul "Hershel" Dalton

Paul "Hershel" Dalton, 91 of Havana, FL, passed away on January 1, 2019

The funeral service will be held at 2:00pm on Saturday, January 5, 2019 at Faith Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Dennis Young officiating.

The family will receive friends two hours prior to the service beginning at 12 noon until 2:00pm the day of the service. Faith Funeral Home & Crematory is in charge of arrangements (850-539-4300 or www.faithfuneralhome.com)

Paul "Hershel" Dalton was born October 28, 1927 in Whigham, GA. The son of the late Paul and Abbie Lowe Dalton. He was one of 7 children. In the. 8 th grade he quit school to help the family earn a living. But he never stopped learning. He was good at math, handling his own financial affairs until 2 months ago. He loved history, American History. Worked farm life from middle teens until 1953. Married his sweetheart, Sarah Helen, March 1,1950 and shared 50 plus years with her and the joy of 6 children. One of which (their firstborn) was lost at 6 days old.

He started work with John Deer in 1953. He worked for Miller Chevrolet 1965-69. Went to work for police department 1969 due to low income after 18 mos Then back to Chevrolet

Where he spent a total of 40 years "pulling wrenches"to include Higdon Grocery as a diesel mechanic for 6 years. He finished out his working years at Havana Golf and Country Club mowing the greens. This ended when he was 84 yrs old. 4 mos later he had a stroke and this started a very subtle but slow decline He continued to drive, care for himself and live independently until April 2018. The next few months he struggled to maintain a life he had clung to, but was determined to never quit striving for independence. Had truly had a will of iron. This quality he carried until his final breath.

The things he loved in Life... Jesus, family, especially the grand kids, great friends, fishing, fish frys of course, hunting ,cooking pots of chicken and rice, every chance he got. He would load up all the cast iron pots and head out to whoever called for a day of cooking and fellowship.

Oh yes.. and let's not forget the Cracker Barrell. His daily treck for breakfast was a ritual, and his favorite waitress was AJ.

His last meal was a home cooked breakfast cooked by his daughter Donna. His words, "that was the best home cooked Cracker Barrell breakfast I have ever had. Her was very proud of his children and all they had accomplished.

He always said, the one thing I have prayed for was to live long enough to see my kids independent and successful and to make it to 91. He got his wish even into the early morning of the New Year Day.

He is preceded in death by his wife Sarah Helen Dalton and a daughter Paula Kathleen Dalton.

He is survived by his siblings Bill Dalton (Dee) of Tallahassee and Joe Dalton (Caroline) Commerce; He is preceded in death by his siblings, Lillian Bamberg (Hubert); Doris Hambrick (Bernard); Hardie Dalton (Caroline) and Betty Dalton.

He is also survived by his daughter Donna Dalton Ferguson of Tallahassee; her children Sarah "Katie" Clay, and C.J. Babb (Brandi). His son Roger Dalton of Havana. His son Don Dalton ( Mary Jo) of Deland; his children Rachel Reiker (Chris) and Leah VanderBoegh (Nathan)

His daughter Linda Dalton Moore (James) of Ayase-Shi, Japan; her children Joshua Moore and Chris Moore; His son Bruce Dalton of Cairo; his children April Dalton Crandall (Greg), Ashley Dalton Worsham (Bennett), Micah Dalton, and Cristian Dalton.

His great grand children Sarah Clay and Stanley Clay, Cameron Hobbs, Caleb Babb, Caelan Babb, Kevin Meyer, Ethan Meyer, Paetyn Crandall, Sawyer Crandall, Zachariah Worsham, Elizabeth VanderBoegh and Theodore VanderBoegh.

One great-great grandchild Jacob Ruff.

He lived and died on his own terms, and touched oh so many lives in the process.

There is no greater gift than being able to care for a parent at the end of life. Dad always said "Once a man, twice a child" as I cared for him.

He will truly be missed.