Donald H Walton

Donald Harrison Walton, aged 98, died peacefully October 22, 2023 in Greenville, SC surrounded by family and a loving care team.
Born in Sycamore, Ohio in 1925. He was raised on the family’s farm and drove a school bus before he enlisted in the Navy. He served as a crew member on the USS Ancon from 1944-1946. Don experienced combat in the Philippines, Okinawa, and observed the signing of the Armistice Treaty in the Bay of Tokyo. Following World War II, he worked for his family’s Massey-Harris implement dealership before beginning a long career with the Massey Ferguson company where he became a Regional Service Manager.
In 1950 Don married Paula Ann Molter, with whom he had 3 children, Michael, Heidi, and Lee Ann. Together, they moved to Michigan and then Maryland before eventually settling in Delaware, Ohio. Don loved working outside and could often be found in his garden tending fruits and vegetables. He was a vibrant man who enjoyed warm weather and seemed to always have a tan. He enjoyed maintaining his lawn and tending flower beds with his wife. Don was the “quintessential handyman” who could fix almost anything. He had a dedicated work area in the garage where he could be found taking apart all kinds of appliances and making them work like new. Don once bought his daughter, Heidi, a powder blue Opal Cadet, which was just a shell of a car. Once he got his hands on it, the little car seemed to run forever. Don lost his wife Paula to cancer in 1980.
Don met Maxine Bailey at Tuller’s Country Store where he used to meet his coworkers for coffee and donuts in the mornings. He and Maxine married in 1984 and moved to the Muirfield community in Dublin, Ohio. Don could often be found collecting errant golf balls from the traps and hazards on the golf course. He was known to pass these balls to friends and family as gifts. In 1998, they relocated to Ormond Beach, FL where they enjoyed building their retirement home, walking on the beach and going on cruises. Don was known as the best pot scrubber after all the family holiday gatherings. In 2018, they moved to Greenville, SC to be closer to Maxine’s daughter and her family.
Don was preceded in death by his parents, Harrison and Fern (Imler) Walton, sisters Marjorie Wright and Virginia Clouse, his first wife Paula (Molter) Walton, son Michael L. Walton, and daughter Heidi A. Steitz. He is survived by his wife Maxine Walton, sister Peggy Gooding, daughter Lee Ann (David) Hogan, stepdaughter Robin (Ron) Pirrallo, daughter-in-law Teri Walton, stepson Richard (Terese) Bailey. He was fond of his many grandchildren and step-grandchildren: Michele Walton, Nicole (Mike) de Bear, MacKenzie and Ben Steitz, Allyssa (Adam) Stewart, Brendan and Lilly Hogan, Reeve Pirrello, Morgan, Jonathan, and Colin Bailey, and great-grandchildren, McKayla, Kennedy and Joey de Bear and Joseph Stewart. He will be missed by many nieces and nephews as well.
A celebration of life ceremony will take place on November 17, 2023 at 2:30pm at The Gardens at Eastside, 275 Commonwealth Dr., Greenville, SC 29615. All are welcome to join and share their memories of Don. Interment will take place at a later date at Mound View Cemetery in Mt. Vernon, Ohio.
The family would like to send a special thank you to the staff of The Gardens at Eastside and the care team from Wren Hospice. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Donald Walton’s honor to:
Wren Hospice
955 W Wade Hampton Blvd
Suite 3A
Greer, SC 29650