Louis Garland Dolton

Louis Garland Dolton has died and the family has lost the anchor and connection that bound them to the previous generation of the family. Louis was a success as a husband, father, grandfather, friend, educator, writer, builder, soldier and youth leader. He was born 16 April 1928 in Mustang, Oklahoma, the son of Elza and Louisa (Mohr) Dolton. He died in Topeka, Kansas, 12 April 2025 at the age of 96 years. He had two brothers (Joseph and Ronald) who, with his parents, predeceased him. He is survived by his sons, five grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

Louis served in the United States Army as an enlisted man toward the end of World War II and was involuntarily called up from the Army Reserves to serve during the Korean War. He earned his jump wings and glider patch at Fort Benning, Georgia and he served stateside in both conflicts. Louis completed parachute jump school and was assigned to the 11th Airborne Battalion in Japan. He boarded a train for California, stopped off for a visit home in Mustang, Oklahoma and arrived at Fort Mason, California, to embark for Japan. He never completed this assignment because when he reached California, it was noticed he had less than a year to serve of his enlistment so he was reassigned to the 82nd Airborne Division. Immediately after his honorable discharge technical sergeant Dolton and family returned to Oklahoma and Louis earned his Bachelor’s Degree in education from Oklahoma City University.

He married Darlene Johnson in between the two wars on 25 August 1949 and they had their first son at William Beaumont Army Hospital, Fort Bliss, Texas. In Oklahoma City their second son was born. After moving to Torrance, California, Louis and Darlene were lovers and partners in life for over fifty-five years. The worst day of Louis’ life occurred 12 November 2004 when Darlene died.

After his college graduation, there followed a series of teaching positions as Louis sought to improve his family’s financial situation culminating in a move to California in 1962 to teach in the LA Unified School District where he retired in 1991 after teaching in the elementary schools for thirty-two years. In addition to his daytime elementary school teaching, Louis was always working additional jobs in order to bring in additional income. His longest was driving the railroad at Disneyland. And he enjoyed bargain hunting, collecting and selling at swap meets and garage sales.

Louis moved to Topeka, Kansas in 2007. There he made many friends in the First Apartments where he lived including Betty, Otto, Ken and others. He loved all his grandchildren, cousins, nieces and nephews and was always interested in hearing how they were doing. To know him was to value and respect him. He was always willing to lend a helping hand to his neighbor wherever he found that neighbor. He was a man of strong convictions, consistent in his life, and hopeful in his death. His last end was peace and he has joined the church triumphant. He will be missed in the home, in the neighborhood and in the church. He had faith in Jesus as his Savior and so he is at home with Him. May we all prepare to meet our God.

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