Thomas E. Dorton, Jr.

          Thomas Emmett Dorton, Jr., 77, of Frederick County, Virginia, died Wednesday, February 26, 2014, in Winchester Medical Center.

Mr. Dorton was born in 1936, in Frederick County, Virginia, the son of the late Thomas E. and Helen C. Dorton, Sr.  He was a graduate of James Wood High School, Class of 1955. Mr. Dorton was a Veteran having served in the Virginia National Guard. He retired after 23 years of service, achieving the rank of Sergeant First Class.  Mr. Dorton was a self-employed carpenter, retiring in 1992.  He was a member of Kernstown United Methodist Church, where he was known as “Keeper of the Keys”. He also served as a Sunday School Teacher, on the Board of Trustees, Administrative Council, the Building Committee and United Methodist Men.   Mr. Dorton was a Boy Scout and Sea Scout with the Shenandoah Area Council.

He married Audrey Anderson on August 13, 1960, in Williamsport, Maryland.

Surviving with his wife are his daughters, Jeanne Dorton Marshall and husband, Tommy, and Janie Dorton Slater and husband, Brian, all of Frederick County; niece/daughter, Susan Anderson Wills and husband, John, of Rupert, West Virginia; and niece/daughter, Sherry Anderson Whitacre and husband, Daniel, of Frederick County; grandchildren, Nick Kelchner, Logan Kelchner, Lindsey Marshall and Noah Marshall, one great grandchild, Declan Kelchner; great nieces, Tiffany McMahon, Amber Pitts; and great-great niece, Ayva Tudor. Also surviving is a sister, Cynthia Dorton Grove of Strasburg.

One sister, Ann Holt Dorton Berg and one brother, Richard Dorton preceded him in death.

The family will receive friends on Friday evening from 6:00-8:00 PM at Omps Funeral Home Amherst Chapel.

A funeral service will be conducted at 11:00 AM on Saturday, March 1, 2014 at Kernstown United Methodist Church with Reverend Clay Knick and Reverend Charles Harless officiating.  Interment will be in Mount Hebron Cemetery, Winchester, Virginia.

Pallbearers will be Nick Kelchner, Logan Kelchner, Noah Marshall, Tommy Marshall, Daniel Whitacre and Roy Walker.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Lindsey Marshall, Jack Anderson, Joseph Hollis, Steve Wymer, Bobby Wilson, Ray Stelzl, Roger Hill and Earl Zook.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Kernstown United Methodist Church, 3239 Valley Pike, Winchester, Virginia  22602 or Shenandoah Area Council Boy Scouts of America 107 Youth Development Court, Winchester, VA  22602.