WILLIAM B. ‘BILL’ BENTON JR.

William B. “Bill” Benton Jr., 81, of Dothan, died Thurs,, Jan. 30, 2014, at Flowers Hospital.

Memorial services will be held at 10 a.m., today, Tue., Feb. 4, at Byrd Funeral Home Chapel on West Main Street with the Rev. Kyle Gatlin officiating. Interment with military honors will be held at Ft. Mitchell National Cemetery in Ft. Mitchell at 1:30 p.m. The family will receive friends at the funeral home one hour prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Museum of the U. S. Army, Ft. Belvoir, Va., or the Wounded Warrior Project.

He was born Jan. 23, 1933, in Baton Rouge, La., and was a graduate of Baton Rouge High. In 1956, he entered the U.S. Army and served in Korea, Germany and three tours in Vietnam before retiring in 1979 at lieutenant colonel. He was the recipient of numerous awards during his military career, including twice awarded the Legion of Merit, seven Air Medals and Master Army Aviator Wings.

In 1988, he was asked to manage the Southeast Alabama Regional Airport (formerly Opp/Andalusia Airport). He served as director for 20 years and the terminal there is now named “The Bill Benton Terminal.” He was named “Airport Manager of the Year” in 1996 and was inducted into the “Alabama Aviation Hall of Fame” in 2011. He was both fixed and rotary wing rated and a Master Army Aviator. He was a member of Covenant United Methodist Church.

He is survived by his wife, Carolyn R. Benton of Dothan; son, William B. (Pauline) Benton III of Mansfield, Texas; and three grandchildren, Emily, Stacey, and Stephen Benton, all of Mansfield, Texas.

 

JAMES MAX BARTON

James Max Barton, 83, of Andalusia, died Thurs., Jan. 30, 2014, at his residence.

Funeral services were held on Sun., Feb. 2, at Foreman Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Bill Pritchett officiating and interment following in Good Hope Cemetery in Baker, Fla.

He is survived by a son, Larry Barton from Atlanta; two grandsons, Robbie (Mindy) Barton and Michael (April) Barton, both of Andalusia; four great-grandchildren, Garrett Barton, Grant Barton, Ethan Barton and Colby Barton; and two brothers, Elry (Barbara) Barton of Nashville and Dalton (Opal) Barton of Andalusia.

He was preceded in death by wife, June Barton, and son, Lamar Barton.

Those who were unable to attend the services may sign the guest registry online at foremanfuneralhome.com.