CHARLES DONALD CALTON, son of Floyd and Nora McMillen Calton, was born August 31, 1925, on a farm near Morgan, Missouri and departed this life February 6, 2017, in Springfield, Missouri, at the age of ninety-one years.
Charles was sixteen years old, Pearl Harbor was attacked. He was passionate about joining the Navy and eventually convinced his parents to let him join. He was only sixteen, so he lied about his age and successfully joined the United States Navy on January 10, 1942, and proudly served our country for over four years until his honorable discharge on January 21, 1946. During his service time, he was an Aviation Ordnance man. He was assigned to the U.S.S. Matanikau, a Casablanca-class escort carrier. Charles was on board for the maiden voyage. On May 25, 1945, fighter and torpedo planes made 602 daylight landings, the greatest number on an aircraft carrier in one day. Charles witnessed many things in those years. Some were wonderful and some tragic, that he was never able to forget.
Charles was a talented musician and began his passion for Bluegrass music when he was nine years old. He continued playing the fiddle during his Navy time and joined with other musicians to play. When Charles returned to Missouri to help his father on the family farm, he began playing music with Hap Graves and his daughter, Inez. Charles fell in love with Inez and they became Mr. & Mrs. Charles Calton on October 10, 1950. Together they raised nine children, and shared fifty-one years of love and laughter. Inez preceded Charles in death on June 22, 2002.
Charles hobbies did not stop with music, although playing in music festivals with his children is something he treasured. From 1976 until 1981, the family played at Silver Dollar City, and in 1981, they opened the Calton Family Music Show in Branson. He was also a talented painter and craftsman, building fiddles and violins until his health no longer allowed. Charles was a gifted athlete and continued to join his family in the yard for fun-filled football games until his eighties. He also enjoyed fishing with family and friends.
Although Charles knew how to have fun and enjoy his family, he also knew the importance of providing for them. He worked as an electrician at Ft. Leonard Wood for twenty-seven years. He was respected by his co-workers and employers. They appreciated his expertise and attention to detail.
He leaves to continue his legacy, three sons, Charles Calton and Robbie of Phillipsburg, MO, Matthew Calton and Sarah of Rogersville, MO, and Andrew Calton and Rachel of Fair Grove, MO; six daughters, Dian Quinn and Richard of Springfield, MO, Teresa Soller and Mike of Meeker, OK, Randie Williams and Ed Pray of Springfield, MO, Brenda Billington and Rick of Branson, MO, Annette Wood and Greg of Branson, MO, and Melissa Engler and Robert of Naples, FL; one brother, Gary Calton of Phillipsburg, MO; thirty-six grandchildren; sixty-three great-grandchildren; other relatives and many friends.
Charles was also preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Freda Green; and three brothers, Bill, Jim and Clode Calton.
Charles Calton was a man of many talents. He loved his family completely and unconditionally. He had perfect pitch, unwavering faith and loved to laugh. We will miss him here, but cherish every memory. Our loss was Heavens gain.
Charles was sixteen years old, Pearl Harbor was attacked. He was passionate about joining the Navy and eventually convinced his parents to let him join. He was only sixteen, so he lied about his age and successfully joined the United States Navy on January 10, 1942, and proudly served our country for over four years until his honorable discharge on January 21, 1946. During his service time, he was an Aviation Ordnance man. He was assigned to the U.S.S. Matanikau, a Casablanca-class escort carrier. Charles was on board for the maiden voyage. On May 25, 1945, fighter and torpedo planes made 602 daylight landings, the greatest number on an aircraft carrier in one day. Charles witnessed many things in those years. Some were wonderful and some tragic, that he was never able to forget.
Charles was a talented musician and began his passion for Bluegrass music when he was nine years old. He continued playing the fiddle during his Navy time and joined with other musicians to play. When Charles returned to Missouri to help his father on the family farm, he began playing music with Hap Graves and his daughter, Inez. Charles fell in love with Inez and they became Mr. & Mrs. Charles Calton on October 10, 1950. Together they raised nine children, and shared fifty-one years of love and laughter. Inez preceded Charles in death on June 22, 2002.
Charles hobbies did not stop with music, although playing in music festivals with his children is something he treasured. From 1976 until 1981, the family played at Silver Dollar City, and in 1981, they opened the Calton Family Music Show in Branson. He was also a talented painter and craftsman, building fiddles and violins until his health no longer allowed. Charles was a gifted athlete and continued to join his family in the yard for fun-filled football games until his eighties. He also enjoyed fishing with family and friends.
Although Charles knew how to have fun and enjoy his family, he also knew the importance of providing for them. He worked as an electrician at Ft. Leonard Wood for twenty-seven years. He was respected by his co-workers and employers. They appreciated his expertise and attention to detail.
He leaves to continue his legacy, three sons, Charles Calton and Robbie of Phillipsburg, MO, Matthew Calton and Sarah of Rogersville, MO, and Andrew Calton and Rachel of Fair Grove, MO; six daughters, Dian Quinn and Richard of Springfield, MO, Teresa Soller and Mike of Meeker, OK, Randie Williams and Ed Pray of Springfield, MO, Brenda Billington and Rick of Branson, MO, Annette Wood and Greg of Branson, MO, and Melissa Engler and Robert of Naples, FL; one brother, Gary Calton of Phillipsburg, MO; thirty-six grandchildren; sixty-three great-grandchildren; other relatives and many friends.
Charles was also preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Freda Green; and three brothers, Bill, Jim and Clode Calton.
Charles Calton was a man of many talents. He loved his family completely and unconditionally. He had perfect pitch, unwavering faith and loved to laugh. We will miss him here, but cherish every memory. Our loss was Heavens gain.
CHARLES DONALD CALTON, son of Floyd and Nora McMillen Calton, was born August 31, 1925, on a farm near Morgan, Missouri and departed this life February 6, 2017, in Springfield, Missouri, at the age of ninety-one years.
Charles was sixteen years old, Pearl Harbor was attacked. He was passionate about joining the Navy and eventually convinced his parents to let him join. He was only sixteen, so he lied about his age and successfully joined the United States Navy on January 10, 1942, and proudly served our country for over four years until his honorable discharge on January 21, 1946. During his service time, he was an Aviation Ordnance man. He was assigned to the U.S.S. Matanikau, a Casablanca-class escort carrier. Charles was on board for the maiden voyage. On May 25, 1945, fighter and torpedo planes made 602 daylight landings, the greatest number on an aircraft carrier in one day. Charles witnessed many things in those years. Some were wonderful and some tragic, that he was never able to forget.
Charles was a talented musician and began his passion for Bluegrass music when he was nine years old. He continued playing the fiddle during his Navy time and joined with other musicians to play. When Charles returned to Missouri to help his father on the family farm, he began playing music with Hap Graves and his daughter, Inez. Charles fell in love with Inez and they became Mr. & Mrs. Charles Calton on October 10, 1950. Together they raised nine children, and shared fifty-one years of love and laughter. Inez preceded Charles in death on June 22, 2002.
Charles hobbies did not stop with music, although playing in music festivals with his children is something he treasured. From 1976 until 1981, the family played at Silver Dollar City, and in 1981, they opened the Calton Family Music Show in Branson. He was also a talented painter and craftsman, building fiddles and violins until his health no longer allowed. Charles was a gifted athlete and continued to join his family in the yard for fun-filled football games until his eighties. He also enjoyed fishing with family and friends.
Although Charles knew how to have fun and enjoy his family, he also knew the importance of providing for them. He worked as an electrician at Ft. Leonard Wood for twenty-seven years. He was respected by his co-workers and employers. They appreciated his expertise and attention to detail.
He leaves to continue his legacy, three sons, Charles Calton and Robbie of Phillipsburg, MO, Matthew Calton and Sarah of Rogersville, MO, and Andrew Calton and Rachel of Fair Grove, MO; six daughters, Dian Quinn and Richard of Springfield, MO, Teresa Soller and Mike of Meeker, OK, Randie Williams and Ed Pray of Springfield, MO, Brenda Billington and Rick of Branson, MO, Annette Wood and Greg of Branson, MO, and Melissa Engler and Robert of Naples, FL; one brother, Gary Calton of Phillipsburg, MO; thirty-six grandchildren; sixty-three great-grandchildren; other relatives and many friends.
Charles was also preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Freda Green; and three brothers, Bill, Jim and Clode Calton.
Charles Calton was a man of many talents. He loved his family completely and unconditionally. He had perfect pitch, unwavering faith and loved to laugh. We will miss him here, but cherish every memory. Our loss was Heavens gain.
Charles was sixteen years old, Pearl Harbor was attacked. He was passionate about joining the Navy and eventually convinced his parents to let him join. He was only sixteen, so he lied about his age and successfully joined the United States Navy on January 10, 1942, and proudly served our country for over four years until his honorable discharge on January 21, 1946. During his service time, he was an Aviation Ordnance man. He was assigned to the U.S.S. Matanikau, a Casablanca-class escort carrier. Charles was on board for the maiden voyage. On May 25, 1945, fighter and torpedo planes made 602 daylight landings, the greatest number on an aircraft carrier in one day. Charles witnessed many things in those years. Some were wonderful and some tragic, that he was never able to forget.
Charles was a talented musician and began his passion for Bluegrass music when he was nine years old. He continued playing the fiddle during his Navy time and joined with other musicians to play. When Charles returned to Missouri to help his father on the family farm, he began playing music with Hap Graves and his daughter, Inez. Charles fell in love with Inez and they became Mr. & Mrs. Charles Calton on October 10, 1950. Together they raised nine children, and shared fifty-one years of love and laughter. Inez preceded Charles in death on June 22, 2002.
Charles hobbies did not stop with music, although playing in music festivals with his children is something he treasured. From 1976 until 1981, the family played at Silver Dollar City, and in 1981, they opened the Calton Family Music Show in Branson. He was also a talented painter and craftsman, building fiddles and violins until his health no longer allowed. Charles was a gifted athlete and continued to join his family in the yard for fun-filled football games until his eighties. He also enjoyed fishing with family and friends.
Although Charles knew how to have fun and enjoy his family, he also knew the importance of providing for them. He worked as an electrician at Ft. Leonard Wood for twenty-seven years. He was respected by his co-workers and employers. They appreciated his expertise and attention to detail.
He leaves to continue his legacy, three sons, Charles Calton and Robbie of Phillipsburg, MO, Matthew Calton and Sarah of Rogersville, MO, and Andrew Calton and Rachel of Fair Grove, MO; six daughters, Dian Quinn and Richard of Springfield, MO, Teresa Soller and Mike of Meeker, OK, Randie Williams and Ed Pray of Springfield, MO, Brenda Billington and Rick of Branson, MO, Annette Wood and Greg of Branson, MO, and Melissa Engler and Robert of Naples, FL; one brother, Gary Calton of Phillipsburg, MO; thirty-six grandchildren; sixty-three great-grandchildren; other relatives and many friends.
Charles was also preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Freda Green; and three brothers, Bill, Jim and Clode Calton.
Charles Calton was a man of many talents. He loved his family completely and unconditionally. He had perfect pitch, unwavering faith and loved to laugh. We will miss him here, but cherish every memory. Our loss was Heavens gain.
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