Charles Dale Walton

Charles Dale Walton, Sr., 88, of Columbia, South Carolina, peacefully passed away surrounded by family at his home on Sunday, March 29, 2026. Born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, on April 9, 1937, he was a son of the late Harvey W. Walton and Myrtle Reading Walton.

Charles Walton was a proud retired Navy veteran where he started his career as an Aviation Electrician. Retiring from the Navy after 22 years of service, he earned his master’s degree in occupational safety from Central Washington University. He worked many years at Owens Corning in SC and then later taught Basic Electricity, Mathematics, and Industrial Safety courses at Tri-County Technical College in upstate SC where he was the 2000 Nominee for the Adjunct Faculty Presidential Award.

Mr. Walton was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for over 65 years. He was sealed to his family for time and eternity in the Mesa, Arizona Temple in 1969. He served in many church callings including as a Branch President in Laurens, SC for 5 years and then served a one-year full-time mission in El Paso, Texas with his wife. Also together with his wife, he volunteered for many years at the church’s Columbia food panty where he helped deliver food to numerous people on a weekly basis. He touched countless lives with his love, example and service to others. Additionally, Charles had a special love for family history and served for 8 years as the Director of the Family History Center located at the LDS church located on Fort Jackson Blvd. A huge accomplishment during this time was directing the Patricia Goff Manuscript Project which placed 20,000 documents online for families from the SC Midlands region.

Survivors include his wife of 69 years, Lillian Toy Walton; son, Carl Walton (Michiko); daughters-in-law, Wanda Walton and Joan Walton; sister, Elaine Brown; son-in-law Mike Hull; 12 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sons, Chuck and Chet; daughter, Chris; grandson, Robert; sister, Julia; brother-in-law, Art; sister, Laura; brother, Dick; sister-in-law, Lucy; and niece, Susan.

The funeral service for Charles Walton will be held at 9:30 AM, Thursday, April 2nd, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Hopkins Ward, 4440 Fort Jackson Blvd, Columbia, SC, with Bishop David Frost officiating. Following at 11:00 AM, a ceremony with Military Honors will follow in Fort Jackson National Cemetery, 4170 Percival Road, Columbia. The family will receive friends prior to the funeral service in the Relief Society Room at the Fort Jackson Blvd church from 8:30 AM - 9:15 AM.