Loleta Madge Dayton was born July 23, 1920, and passed away in her sleep in the early morning of July 23, 2010, on her 90th birthday.
She was born to Zophar Zongker and Golden Zongker, in Everton, Mo., and grew up in the Ash Grove/Walnut Grove and Willard area.
She met Cyrus Abraham Dayton, her future husband, when both were children. They married on Novemeber 2, 1941, while he was on leave from his ship in Pearl Harbor. They had one daughter, Janice Joy Popovich, who resides in Torrance, California. Loleta also had one granddaughter, Leah Sharp and her husband Rusty; and one great-granddaughter, Rowan, all of Redondo Beach, California.
She is also survived by her sisters, Annabelle Sheridan, Mary June Barton, Ruby Bell; and one brother, Tommy Zongker, all of Springfield; and many nieces and nephews.
After Loleta’s husband’s retirement from the navy, following 20 years of service, they resided in Waukegan, Ill. Loleta was a long-time associate of J.C. Penney’s department store, both in Waukegan and in Springfield, where she and her husband retired in 1981.
In Waukegan they were active members of Immanuel Baptist Church and in Springfield at High Street Baptist Church. She sang in the choir for many years and was a tireless worker in the High Street Grandmother’s Club.
She was a friend to all and very devoted to her family. She faitfully sent birthday and anniversary cards to every member of her large, extended family. She loved to do handiwork and gave these items as gifts to her family. She was an avid cook and gardener and entered flowers, vegetables, pies and needlework in the Ozark Empire Fair.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Greenlawn North Fuenral Home. The service will be held on Tuesday, with burial in Rose Hill Cemetery, in Willard. In lieu of flowers, donations could be made to High Street Grandmother’s Club or the charity of your choice.
Services will be in Greenlawn Funeral Home North, Tuesday, July 27, 2010, at 10 a.m. Visitation is Monday evening, from 6 to 8 p.m.