Garland Otis Dalton, 93, of Arlington died peacefully in his home surrounded by family on Sunday, Dec. 26, 2010. Funeral: 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Thompson's Harveson and Cole. Interment: Graveside services will be held immediately afterwards in Dalton-Grimsley Cemetery, located in the 1100 block of East Debbie Land, Mansfield. Memorials: The family requests memorials be made to a charity of the giver's choice. Garland was born June 22, 1917, in Fort Worth, the third child of Jessie Otis and Mildred Melinda Dalton. Affectionately known by close friends and family as "Son," Garland joined the United States Navy and served aboard the USS Bristol during World War II, from 1944-1945. Upon returning from service, he joined his family's food manufacturing business in Fort Worth, and eventually became the president and CEO of what is known today as Best Maid Products, Inc. His career at Best Maid was immensely rewarding as he often spoke of how lucky he had been in life to do something he loved. "I'll take luck any day" was a favorite phrase he often uttered when things just happened to go his way. Garland found fulfillment for his spirit of service by maintaining memberships in the Freemasons and Shriners International organizations, and social fraternities, Rotary Club of Fort Worth, and The Petroleum Club of Fort Worth. The family wishes all to know that Garland was a faithful, kind and generous person. He embraced life to the fullest, and our lives have all been enriched and blessed because of him. Garland was preceded in death by his parents, Jessie Otis and Mildred Melinda Dalton; wife, Willie Julia Whitehead Cohen; sister, Margie Dalton Tarwater; wife, Ruth Green Dalton; son, Dan Dalton; daughter, Beverly Jean Dalton Briggs; sister, Juanita Dalton Koch; and loving and caring wife, Freda Chance Dalton. And for the special job they have performed, and for the care they gave, we give special thanks to Deneen Smith, Nelson Hunter, Carlett Hunter, Betty Smith, Hattie Boyd, Demetria Jackson and Mitzi Reed for becoming part of the family and helping Garland with grace, kindness, hope, strength and humor. Survivors: Son, Gary Dalton and wife, Vienna Dalton, of Mansfield; daughter, Patricia Dalton of Fort Worth; grandson, Brian Dalton and wife, Mary Bess Dalton, of Mansfield; grandson, Chris Dalton of Arlington; grandson, Jerry Dalton and wife, Rachel Dalton, of Weatherford; grandson, Casey Dalton Ellison and wife, Lisa Ellison, of Fort Worth; granddaughter, Dana Dalton of Burleson; grandson, Matthew Briggs and wife, Karen, of Milton, Ga.; five great-grandchildren; stepson, Mark Chance and wife, Kelly, of Midlothian; stepson, Alan Chance and wife, Dana; stepgrandchildren, Brandon, Clayton, Chase, Jennifer and Matthew Chance.
Published in Star-Telegram on December 28, 2010

This grave has been disinterred and moved to a private mausoleum at Greenwood Memorial Park in Fort Worth, Texas.