Dalton Earl Crockett

Dalton Earl Crockett, 86, of Ballinger passed away Wednesday, July 27, 2011 at Hendrick Medical Center in Abilene, Texas.

He was born July 23, 1925 to D. M. (Buster) and Bertha Crockett in Norton, Texas. He lived in Norton until he joined the Army in 1944 to serve during WWII in the Pacific Theater. After the war he returned to Ballinger where he was elected to serve two terms as Runnels County Tax Assessor-Collector and was nationally recognized at the age of 26 as one of the youngest Democrats to hold a public office. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Ballinger. As an avid fisherman, he spent many days and nights with family and friends on the Rio Grande and Pecos Rivers. Dalton was a farmer and owner/operator of the Crockett Gin in Norton from 1959 until 1988. After retirement he could be found most mornings and afternoons at the Texas Theater shuffling dominoes or drinking coffee at Keel Drug. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, D. B. Crockett and W. A. Crockett.

Survivors include Billie, his wife of 52 years; three daughters, Paula Easter and husband, Jack, of Duncanville, Texas; Dana Rich and husband, Jim, of San Antonio; and Patty Esposito and husband, Roddy, of Abilene; nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Visitation for family and friends will be Friday, July 29 from 6:00 to 7:00 pm at Lange Funeral Home. Services will be held Saturday, July 30 at 10:00 am at First United Methodist Church in Ballinger with Rev. Buddy Moore officiating. Burial will follow at Garden of Memories Cemetery in Ballinger.

Pallbearers will be Wayne Johnson, Robert Hambright, Mike Herron, and grandsons Jay Easter, J. D. Rich, and Justin Leifeste. Honorary pallbearers will be Lester Schaefer, Kelly Chapman, Curtis Jennings, and Lanham “Mac” Carter.

Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Ballinger or to a favorite charity.