Name: William Albert "Bill" Calton Date: October 14th, 1933 - May 22nd, 2009 Obituary: William Albert “Bill” Calton, October 14, 1933 to Friday, May 22, 2009 at the age of 75 at Hospice of Rutherford County after a 2 year struggle with Alzheimer’s disease. ‘Papa Bill,’ as he was affectionately known to his 12 grandchildren and many others who loved him as a grandfather, was born at home in Cleveland County, the second son of the late Aubrey Sr. and Hattie Calton. Bill’s older brother is Aubrey Calton, Jr., a well-loved local organist, (and wife, Betty) of Forest City, NC. Bill loved the outdoors, drove a school bus, worked with wheat harvesting in Montana, and partnered with his uncle to grow beans in Florida for commercial marketing. After two years at NC State College and two more years in the US Army, Bill married Elizabeth “Beth” Persons in June of 1962 on the front lawn of the Green River Plantation, then owned by Bill and his uncle, John Crowder. Always the entrepreneur, Bill soon partnered with James Deck to create Calton & Deck, Inc. These two diligent men bought and sold salvage and scrap and also dredged sand from the Green River. Bill used mechanical ingenuity to build whatever equipment was needed, including a sand barge, sand pump, and classifying systems. Bill and Beth built their home on the top of the hill near the Green River Plantation in 1965. They moved there just days before their third child was born. Bill and Beth’s family grew to include four children, their spouses, and 12 grandchildren: Dawn Calton Jordan and husband, Terry, children Jonathan, Spencer, Andrew, and Kira, of Rutherfordton, NC, Dee Calton Sizemore and husband Alva, children Joseph, Laura Beth, and Chris of Burlington, NC, Tim Calton and wife Tara, children Christine Calton, Tyler and Hunter Jolley, Tom Calton and wife Evelyne, children Bianca Dragul and Samuel Calton, all of Rutherfordton, NC. While continuing the salvage and scrap business, (now Calton Surplus LLC), Bill was also deeply involved at Green Creek First Baptist Church as Sunday School teacher and Deacon. For many years, Bill was actively involved in the Polk County Gideon Camp. Visitation will be held at Padgett and King in Forest City on Saturday, May 23rd, 2009 from 6 to 9 pm. Otherwise, the family will receive at the Calton Lodge at 325 Sycamore Lane. The funeral will be held on Sunday, May the 24th at 2pm at Green Creek First Baptist Church,534 Coxe Rd Columbus. Burial will follow immediately at the church cemetery. Memorial donations can be made to the tax deductible ‘Bill Calton Fund c/o the River Ministries’ 325 Sycamore Lane Rutherfordton, NC 28139. Funds to be disbursed to Bill’s favorite charities, including Gideons, Hospice of Rutherford County, the Alzheimer’s Association and Green Creek First Baptist Church. The family of Bill Calton would also like to thank Hospice of Rutherford County for their dedicated service and the constant loving care offered to Bill and to his grateful family. The Padgett and King Mortuary is in charge of arrangements and an online guest registry is available at www.padgettking.com Visitations: 6:00PM to 9:00PM on Saturday, May 23rd, 2009 at The Padgett & King Mortuary (map/driving directions) Services: 2:00PM at Green Creek First Baptist Church on Sunday, May 24th, 2009 (map/driving directions) Cemetery: Green Creek First Baptist Church Cemetery 534 Coxe Rd Columbus, NC (map/driving directions)