James A. Orton March 18, 1915 Submitted by:
James A. Orton (1933 - 2015)
James A. Orton, of Ramona, Oklahoma, went to his eternal rest on June 4, 2015 after an extended illness. Jim was born March 29, 1933, near Lyman, Oklahoma, where his father was working an oilfield job. Jim was the son of James A. Orton, Jr. and Geraldine (Tippin) Orton.
His family moved frequently during his childhood, settling in St. Louis, Missouri in the early 1940's. Jim graduated from high school in St. Louis in 1951. He then attended Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, where he made many deep and lasting friendships and graduated in 1955. He served in the United States Army following graduation, until April 1957.
Jim married Janet Viola Althoff on October 26, 1957 in St. Louis. Jim and Janet had three children, David, Gail and Susan, in the following seven years. Jim was employed by Midvale Industries in St. Louis, Missouri shortly after he and Janet married, and faithfully represented Midvale throughout his entire career. In the early 1970's he established Midvale's Tulsa, Oklahoma office, which served Oklahoma and the surrounding states, heading that office until his retirement in 1995.
Jim was a member of Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church in Bartlesville, Oklahoma and was, over the years, a dedicated leader and volunteer in Palomino and Quarter Horse organizations with which his children were involved, and in pigeon breeding organizations. In his later years, Jim was particularly passionate about woodturning, was an active member of the Northeastern Oklahoma Woodturners Association, and was a regular volunteer at Oklahoma Heart Hospital on the Hillcrest campus. Jim will be missed by the many close friends he made at Westminster and in business, and by his Tulsa woodturning buddies.
Jim was predeceased by his parents, and by his sister Margaret and his brother Billy. He is survived by his wife of 57-plus years, Janet, his son and daughter-in-law David and Charlotte Orton of Taiban, New Mexico, his daughter and son-in-law, Gail and Steve Davis of Guthrie, Oklahoma, and his daughter and son-in-law Susan and Terry Pefanis of Brentwood, Tennessee. Jim loved his grandchildren immensely, and followed each of them closely; they are Wyatt Orton, Ruby Orton, Shelby Orton, Sarah Davis Barbour, Amanda Davis Day, Caleb Davis, Cooper Davis, Corbin Pefanis, Margot Pefanis and Trey Pefanis.
In accordance with Jim's wishes, he will be cremated.
A memorial service will be held at 1:30 PM, Wednesday, June 17, 2015 at Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church, 801 SE Washington Blvd., Bartlesville, OK 74006. Arrangements are under the direction of Smith-Gallo Funeral Home, Guthrie.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church, 801 SE Washington Blvd., Bartlesville, OK 74006 or to a charity of the donor's choice.
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