Weldon ‘O Dean Slaton

Services for Weldon ‘O Dean Slaton, 83, of Athens, were held at 1 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2007, at Carroll-Lehr Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Rita Wilson officiating, under the direction of Carroll-Lehr Funeral Home of Athens. Burial followed at Liberty Cemetery in Van Zandt County.

Mr. Slaton died peacefully at his farm Sunday, Dec. 31, 2006. He was born Nov. 17, 1923, in the Bethel Community, very near the same place he died.

Mr. Slaton grew up on the farm during the depression. In October of 1943, he joined the Marines and served his country in the 4th Marine Division in the Pacific Theatre, where he was seriously wounded on the island of Saipan.
Soon after his discharge from the Marines, Mr. Slaton went to work for Texas Power and Light Company and continued to work for them for the next 40 years. He began in line and substation construction helping to bring electricity to rural Texas. His last position for Texas Power and Light Company was shift foreman at the Stryker Creek power plant.

After his retirement, he moved back to the farm near Bethel, where he raised cattle until his death.

Mr. Slaton was preceded in death by his mother, Roberta McGlaun Slaton; his father, Julian Wreay Slaton; his brother, Martin Ray Slaton; and his infant son, Julian Dale Slaton. Mr. Slaton is survived by his wife of 62 years, Mildred Opal Slaton; three sons and daughters-in-law, Weldon ‘ODean Slaton Jr. and Peggy Joan Slaton; Dennis Lyle Slaton and Michele Halbert Slaton; David Lynn Slaton and Brenda Lea Slaton; five grandsons, Scott Slaton, Dustin Slaton, Ryan Slaton, Brent Slaton and Brian Slaton; one granddaughter, Meagan Slaton and a great-grandson, Ryder Slaton; and many nieces and nephews.

A guest registery to leave a message of condolence for the family is on the Web site at: www.carroll-lehr.com.

Information from The Jacksonville Daily Progress