A hardcore Texan with a noble heart, our beloved father, grandfather and friend, Dalton Closs, died Thursday, January 5, 2017. He was ninety-four.

Dalton was born in Tabor on May 11, 1922, then grew up in Edge and Bryan. The last surviving son of Junius Monroe Closs and Ida Myrtle Moore Closs—a rancher who also farmed cotton and corn, and a homemaker, respectively—Dalton had a happy childhood on their family farm. His siblings included: Milton "Mitt" Closs, Gladys Berger, Jane Berdine, Beth English, Ruby Holland, J.M. Closs and John Benton Closs, all now deceased. As a boy, Dalton helped his mother in the kitchen since he wasn't adept at picking cotton. He often rode around the farmyard on a stick horse, waiting for his mother to feed him biscuits with syrup through the kitchen window. He liked to entertain his siblings—such as by pretending gardening implements were guitars, then striking up a tune—and like many boys at the time, he rode his favorite horse, Dan, to grade school in Edge. Eventually, the time came for Dalton to attend Stephen F. Austin High School in Bryan, he was the first to get on the bus in the morning and the last to get off. He once took the train all the way to Dallas for a FFA competition involving the chickens which he had raised. After spending all day at the fair, he boarded the train to return to Edge with 15 cents in his pocket, which was the exact price of a sandwich. During his teen years, Dalton's Grandfather, J.T. Closs, ran the cotton gin and store in Edge—for which he printed and distributed his own currency to help the people of the Edge community during the Depression. J.T. often issued credit to families who had run out of coins and paper money. Dalton's grandfather was a great influence on him and as a result, Dalton bought his own land in Edge at age 16 from his earnings. He eventually graduated in 1940, then took a job working in the MSC Mess Hall at Texas A&M College.

As World War II raged, he enlisted in 1943 and served in the Army as a Staff Sergeant, completing his tour of duty in the Pacific Theater along with the 136th Infantry (Company E), where he received a Purple Heart. Although he began Army life as a grunt—cracking eggs—he later served as an Army Ranger Trainer. After arriving home in 1945, Dalton moved to Freeport, where he owned and operated a gas station. It was here that he met Helen Marie Scruggs (Closs), with her movie star good looks and her habit of only buying one day's worth of gas at a time—so that she could see him more often. Dalton finally caught on to her tactics, which made him love her all the more. The couple finally married on October 6, 1951, in Freeport and built a home there, then spent the next 58 years madly in love with each other until Helen's death. From their union would come five children: Lana Marie Closs Booher (and husband Jerry, of Greensburg, PA), Dalton "Monroe" Closs II (and wife Trisha, of Jones Creek, TX), Becky Closs Clymer (and husband Ron, of McKinney, TX), as well as twins Thomas "Tom" Closs (and wife Robin, of Lake Jackson, TX) and Timothy "Tim" Closs (and wife LindaKay, of Freeport).

As a husband and father, Dalton was gentlemanly and kind, with a thirst for knowledge that helped him pursue higher learning on his own terms. He was quick-witted and had a response ready for everything, although he only once badmouthed one person in 94 years—a siding salesman who thought that the Closs family home needed a makeover. Professionally, Dalton began working for Dow Chemical in 1961 as a Lab Technician/Chemist in the company plant, where chlorine was extracted from salt water, and also joined a local union for operators (engineers). Twenty years later, Dalton moved back to Edge and began ranching again, then built another family home. Dalton and Helen regularly attended Alexander United Methodist Church in Tabor, Texas. Occasionally, he'd leave town for an adventure somewhere, such as the Mayan ruins of Mexico or even the craps tables of Las Vegas ("You can't leave a hot table"). At home, his hobbies included showing cattle, collecting coins and antique barbed wire as well as enjoying history, art, music, reading and CNN. His favorite color was purple—just as Helen's had been—and he loved sweets and pie ("Eat pie when you can and cake when you have to"). He loved being the family patriarch and wasn't afraid to give any other family member his opinion—they often heard his trademark "It ain't gonna work" or more colorful expressions "That guy was drunker than a boiled owl."

Always original and authentic, kind and compassionate, Dalton will be missed by his children Lana, Monroe, Becky, Tom and Tim, as well as their families and Dalton's grandchildren: Jason, Matt, Ben, Austin, Natalie, Ashtyn, T.J., Taylor, Tristan, Brad, Brittany and Racheal. His twelve cherished great-grandchildren also mourn his passing. Dalton was predeceased by his parents and siblings, his sweetheart Helen, his grandson, Randy, and his beloved dog, Tigger.

The Life Celebration of Dalton Closs will begin with Visitation on Tuesday, January 10th from 6-8pm at Hillier Funeral Home in Bryan. Funeral services will follow on Wednesday, January 11th at 10am in the same location, with interment following at New Church Cemetery in Edge, including final military honors.

Published The Eagle January 9, 2017