Opal Irene Dalton

Opal Irene Dalton, 94, of Memphis, Missouri, died Sunday, March 1, 2015, at the Scotland County Hospital in Memphis.

She was born September 30, 1920, in Schuyler County, Missouri, to Ernest Edward and Odessa M. (Elschlager) Aldridge.

Irene attended school in Downing, Missouri, for several years and then at the Elm Grove School in rural Schuyler County.

She married Delbert Floyd Dalton on April 16, 1936, in Memphis, Missouri. Following her marriage, Irene lived in rural Scotland County except for ten years when she and her husband lived in Nebraska City, Nebraska. Following her husband’s death, Irene moved to Memphis.

While in Nebraska, Irene did all the cooking for the ranch hands where her husband was employed. Following their return to rural Scotland County, she worked for ten years at the Dryden’s Rubber Plant in Keokuk, Iowa. She then worked as a cook at Campbell’s Truck Stop in Memphis for two years after which she began employment at the Memphis Memorial Hospital until she retired, due to failing health. Irene was an accomplished seamstress, sewing for herself and her daughters, including casual wear as well as prom dresses and a wedding gown. She also enjoyed handiwork, piecing and quilting many quilts, embroidering numerous pillow cases and quilt squares to be set together for quilt tops to be used and for gifts for her children and generations beyond.

Irene was a member of the Richland Baptist Church in rural Scotland County and since moving to Memphis, attended the First Baptist Church in Memphis.

She is survived by five children: William E. Dalton and his wife, Bonnie, of Memphis; Floyd Eugene Dalton and his wife, Sherry, of Kahoka, Missouri; Kathryn Faye Hyde of Danville, Iowa; Elizabeth Louise Humes and her husband, Ernest, of Wyaconda, Missouri and Karyon Marie Elsea and her husband, Bill, of Greentop, Missouri. Also surviving are seventeen grandchildren, twenty-four great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Irene was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of nearly sixty-seven years; a grandson, Robby Humes; a great grandson, Anthony Dalton; three brothers: Russell Aldridge, Albert Aldridge and Henry Aldridge and a son-in-law, Larry Hyde.

A visitation, with the family present to greet relatives and friends, will be held on Thursday, March 5th from 10 A.M. until 12 noon at the First Baptist Church in Memphis. Funeral services will be held Thursday, March 5th at 1:30 P.M. at the First Baptist Church in Memphis with Reverend Dan Hite officiating. Vocalists, Delores Hyde and Junior Arnold will sing “Jesus is Lord of All” and “I Will Follow Thee,” accompanied by pianist, Pam Blaine. A special CD selection, “Breathe,” recorded by Irene’s granddaughter, Heather Smith, will also be played.

Burial will follow at the Richland Cemetery in rural Scotland County. Casket bearers will be Stacy Humes, Daron Dalton, Delbert Dalton, James Dalton, Keith Hyde and Todd Gibbs. Honorary bearers will be Damon Dalton, Holly Heinze, Arnold Dalton, Lorie Wilson, Donald Dalton, Michael Dalton, Diane Rice, Terry Hyde, Heather Smith and Ryan Elsea.

To honor Irene’s memory, a memorial may be made to Richland Cemetery and may be left at the church or mailed to Memphis Funeral Home, 378 South Market Street, Memphis, Missouri 63555.

Condolences may be made to the Dalton Family by logging onto memphisfuneralhome-mo.com.

Arrangements are under the direction of Memphis Funeral Home.