Milton Hinman Alton, 97, of Mexico, passed away on Saturday, August 22 at Heritage Hall in Centralia.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, September 19, at Arnold Funeral Home. Pastor Phil Alvord will be officating the service.

Visitation will be Saturday from 10 a.m. until the time of services at the funeral home.

He was born on July 7, 1929, in Hutchinson, Kansas, to Glover K. Alton and Helen Arlene (Hinman) Alton. The family briefly lived in Kansas City and then moved to a farm near Camdenton, close to Lake of the Ozarks.

Milton graduated from Camdenton High School and shortly afterward moved with his parents to a farm north of Sturgeon.

In August 1951, Milton was inducted into the U.S. Army. After basic training, he was stationed in El Paso, Texas, for advanced training. He married Doris Lee Owings in May 1952, and they celebrated 70 anniversaries together before Doris Lee’s passing in 2022.

After his honorable discharge from the U.S. Army, Milton and Doris Lee returned to mid-Missouri, where he worked the family farm with his father and later managed the Dr. Kallenbach farms near Mexico, Missouri. When spinal surgeries forced him to stop farming, he enrolled in the University of Missouri College of Agriculture. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanized Agriculture and began a new career as Service Manager for A.O. Smith Harvestore. He ultimately retired as an Area Agricultural Engineering Specialist for the University of Missouri Agricultural Extension Service. He was also well known for his woodworking skills, especially his talent for building and repairing furniture. In his later years, he found joy in making small wooden bears and other engraved cutouts to give to children wherever he traveled.

Throughout his life, Milton was remembered for his steady work ethic, practical skill, devotion to family, and willingness to help others.

Milton’s legacy includes his sons, Byron (Elaine) Alton, Kendall (Michelle) Alton, and Loren Alton. He was the dear grandfather of Jeffrey (Missy) Alton, Scott (Heather) Alton, Sharon (Thomas) Winterhalter, Christopher (Amanda) Alton, David (Nicole) Alton, Matthew (Erin) Alton, Courtney Alton, and Chase Alton. He was great-grandfather to Jorja, Miranda, Jordan, Brendan, Dakota, Oggy, Otto, Owen, Jameson, Lainey, Madeline, Lucy, and Isaac, and great-great-grandfather to Aurora.

Milton Alton will be laid to rest at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Jacksonville, Missouri, alongside Doris Lee Alton.

The family requests memorial donations be made to Mexico First Church of the Nazarene. Memorials may be sent in care of Arnold Funeral Home, 425 S. Jefferson, Mexico, MO 65265.