Richard “Dick” Laurence Dalton ’61

Richard Laurence Dalton (Dick), 84 passed away after a brief stay at Trellis KBR Home. Dick was born in Winston-Salem, NC on November 1, 1938 to Virginia and Laurence Dalton.

He attended R.J. Reynolds High School and Davidson College, where he played soccer and was named to the All South list two years in a row. After college, Dick married his high school sweetheart, Brenda Snow, and entered the military. The couple moved to Germany where they started their family. After returning to NC, Dick moved into an IT career for Hanes Corporation where he worked until retirement.

Dick was passionate about golf and even got a hole in one (of which he was very proud). He was an avid outdoorsman, a trait he shared with his two sons. While at home, gardening was a favorite pastime. Dick would grow heirloom tomatoes from seed and share with friends and family. His lessons of wisdom, kindness, and patience will be remembered and cherished by all.

In addition to his parents, Dick was preceded in death by a sister, Carolyn Dalton Stuart. He is survived by his loving wife, Brenda of 62 years, his two sons, Kenneth (Sandra) & Bradley, three grandchildren, Windsor Dalton (Bennett Cooper), Jordan Embry (Cy Schroeder), and Riley Bolton (Ian), 2 great granddaughters, Chloe & Bridget Bolton, a brother, Dr. Robert Dalton (Katie), and many loving extended family members.

The family would like to thank Dr. Francis O’Brien of Wake Forest Baptist for his extraordinary kindness and guidance during this most difficult time.

A graveside service to celebrate Dick’s life will be held at Salem Moravian Graveyard, 459 S. Church St., Winston-Salem, NC 27101 on Saturday, September 16th at 2:00 p.m. A reception will follow in the church parlor.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be directed to Cancer research at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, Office of Philanthropy and Alumni Relations, PO Box 571021, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, or to Home Moravian Church, 529 S. Church St., Winston-Salem, NC 27101. Condolences may be made online at www.salemfh.com.

Robert Marion Gant Jr. ’61

Rev. Robert Marion Gant, Jr., 83, of Huntersville died January 20, 2023. He was born on February 19, 1939 at Fort Bragg, NC. to the late Robert and Elizabeth Gant.

Born into a military family Bob, grew up in continual movement. By the age of 25, he had lived in 25 different cities, from Santa Maria CA, to Sendai, Japan.

He began high school in Japan, then eventually graduated from Western Military School in Illinois. He is a graduate of Davidson College and received his Master of Divinity degree from Columbia Theological Seminary.

From 1964-1993 he served as minister at the Fulton Presbyterian in Greer SC, Cane Creek Presbyterian in Union SC, Holy Cross Presbyterian Church & Fraser Memorial Presbyterian both in Sumter SC. Bob was very active in Sumter, SC where he was instrumental in the organization of Christian Charities, President of the Sumter Ministers Association, and served as a board member on the Sumter Council on Aging.

After his time in SC, Bob served as minister at Alamance Presbyterian Church in Greensboro, NC from 1993-2003. In his retirement he returned to Cane Creek as part time minister.

Bob’s hobbies include being ham radio operator, serving as a Chaplin at Tuomey Hospital in Sumter SC, and was active in the Stephen’s Ministry and the Lions Club. In retirement he also enjoyed spending time at the YMCA working out and meeting friends for Bible study.

Survivors include his wife Carol; daughter, Robin Coble and husband John of Huntersville , sons, Stephen and wife Gina of Jacksonville, FL and David Gant and wife Kim of Perkasie, PA; grandchildren, Jack, Ashton, Gabrielle, Kaitlyn, Joey, Jesse, and Kami; and great-grandchild, Lady.

Memorials may be made to St Mark Catholic Church Respite Ministry, 14740 Stumptown Road, Huntersville, NC 28078 or the Huntersville A.R.P. Discipleship ministry, P.O. Box 316 Huntersville, NC 28070.

The family will receive friends from 5-7 PM Monday, January 23 at James Funeral Home.

The funeral service will be held at 10 AM Tuesday, January 24 at Huntersville A.R.P. Church. The graveside will follow at 2 PM at Alamance Presbyterian Church in Greensboro.

Solon “Russ” Russell Cotton, Jr. ’61

Russ passed away in his sleep on January 12, 2023, at The Gardens of Trent in New Bern. He had been a patient there for one month.

He was born January 9th, 1939, in Smithfield, N.C. to Nelda and Solon Cotton. He was preceded in death by his parents and his mother and father-in-law, Gladys and John Harper. He leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife, Sandi of 61 years; his daughter, Kim; his son, Rusty (Fran); and his three grandchildren, Brin, Lindsey, and Will Cotton.

Russ graduated from Red Springs High School in 1956. He was a post graduate of Randolph-Macon Military Academy in Front Royal, VA, in 1957 where he played football and baseball. He then attended Davidson College for 4 years and graduated in 1961. In his freshman year he was selected as Outstanding Freshman Athlete.

Following in his parents’ footsteps, he began his career in education and served as teacher/coach, principal, and assistant superintendent. In his 38 years he served in many N.C. school districts and received many honors and awards. He ended his tenure as superintendent of Pamlico County Schools in 1999. At his retirement he was awarded The Order of The Long Leaf Pine by Gov. James B. Hunt, Jr.

Thankfully, the superintendency of Pamlico Co. Schools brought us back home. Russ always had an affection for Pamlico County where he once lived. He was a dedicated educator and felt that was his “calling”.

The family will receive friends and relatives from 2 to 4:00 p.m., Sunday, January 15th at Daniels-Sadler Funeral Home. Private interment will be held in Amity Christian Church Cemetery.

May he rest in peace and know that he was well loved by faculty, administrators, friends and family.

Flowers are appreciated or contributions in his memory may be made to one’s favorite charity.

Frank “Alec” Alexander Gould, Jr. ’61

Frank “Alec” Alexander Gould, Jr., died peacefully surrounded by his family on September 7, 2022, at the age of 83. He was born on January 26, 1939, in Harrisonburg, Virginia. He was preceded in death by his mother, father and stepfather, Kathleen Carpenter Wine, Frank Alexander Gould, Sr., and O. Walton Wine, Sr. He is survived by his wife, Kristine “Kristy” Lee Gould of Cedar Park, Texas; his sister, Mary Carpenter Gould Coulbourn and her husband, Tom, of Richmond, Virginia; his stepbrother O. Walton Wine, Jr. and his wife, Judie, of Harrisonburg, Virginia; his daughter Amy Carpenter Nolan and her husband, Kirk, of Austin, Texas; his daughter Haley Gould Schurz and her husband, Walker, of Lusaka, Zambia; his son Lee Alexander Gould of Brentwood, Tennessee; and his son David Ballard Gould of Springfield, Missouri. He had seven grandchildren, Benjamin Nolan, Claire Nolan, Timothy Schurz, Jessica Schurz, Austin Gould, Dylan Gould, and Colby Gould. His grandchildren called him “Pops.” Alec graduated from Davidson College in 1961 and was a member of the ATO fraternity.

He began his career with the National Park Service as a ranger/historian at Colonial National Park in Yorktown, Virginia in 1962. After working four years at Fort Donelson National Military Park in Tennessee, he returned to Colonial as an interpretive supervisor. In 1970, he moved to Appomattox Court House, Appomattox, Virginia as Superintendent where he started a living history program that continues today. As Superintendent of Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park from 1972-1981, in Johnson City, Texas, he worked with President and Mrs. Johnson to develop the LBJ Ranch as a historic site with cattle operations and an interpretive bus tour. His next superintendency was at Buffalo National River in Harrison, Arkansas. In 1987, he worked as a deputy regional director in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania helping to oversee parks in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, West Virginia, and Virginia. Alec returned to Colonial National Historical Park in Yorktown, Virginia in 1989 as Superintendent and retired from the National Park Service in 2011, after a 42-year career.

Alec was known professionally for his fair and principled leadership, and sought the good of each community where he served. He was active in local churches in each town where he lived, having been raised in the Presbyterian Church. Alec loved history, music, and was an accomplished golfer in his retirement. Above all his interests were his love and commitment to his family. He regularly sacrificed his time to support his wife, children, and grandchildren. He loved his mother Kathleen Wine, and visited her weekly until her passing at age 101. His wife Kristy reflected, “If you look up the word ‘gentleman’ in the dictionary, you would find Alec Gould’s name.” Alec moved with his wife Kristy to Cedar Park, Texas in 2019 and became active in many areas at The Enclave retirement facility. The family invites all friends to attend a memorial service for Alec on September 17th, 2022 at the Cook-Walden Chapel of the Hills Funeral Home in Austin, Texas at 10:00 am.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cookwaldenchapelofthehills.com for the GOULD family.

Charles Marvin Parker ’61

Charles Marvin Parker died peacefully on August 29, 2022 in Roland Park, Maryland.

He was born in LaGrange, Georgia on March 29, 1938 to Charlie W. Parker and Marion Parker (née Hart).

He married Sue Marion Williams in LaGrange on December 20, 1958 and they had two children, Glenn P. Parker and Allison Parker-Abromitis.

In his early years Charlie was a musician, playing the trombone and was a part of the all district band. He was his high school drum major and voted most talented in his senior year. 

Charlie attended Davidson College in North Carolina on an ROTC scholarship and received a B.A. in English.

Charlie was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army in 1962 and served in military intelligence and counterintelligence for almost 40 years. He had tours of duty in South Korea and Vietnam, and was later stationed with his family in Tokyo, Japan and Nürnberg, Germany, before settling in Northern Virginia. In 1979, he earned a Master of Arts in Government from Georgetown while serving in the military.

Charlie was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Meritorious Service Medal, Legion of Merit, among others.

After retiring from civilian life, he trained to be a docent at the Library of Congress. As a student of history, it was a job he loved, but illness soon made it impossible for him to continue.

Charlie is survived by his children Allison and Glenn, Glenn’s wife, Faith, and by his granddaughter, Mariliza K. Parker. Charlie was predeceased by his wife, Sue, on July 29, 2022.

A celebration of life for Charlie and Sue will be held in October.

In lieu of flowers, his family suggests a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org).