Francis Marion Denton

Francis Marion Denton, 79, of Pleasant Hill Ave., Morganton, NC died peacefully at Grace Hospital on Thursday, February 19, 2009. He was born in Burke County, NC on July 24, 1929 in a log cabin on the Little Cedar Mountain, the son of the late Maggie Denton. Except for his U.S. Army service from 1952 to 1954, he was a lifelong resident of the Enola Community. He was a Korean War veteran and during his deployment to Korea, he served as a chaplain’s assistant. He married the late Peggy Swinson Denton, daughter of Rev. James & Wilmer Swinson, on December 23, 1953. He was a loving husband and devoted father. He was a dedicated Christian servant for his entire adult life. He served as a deacon, trustee, Sunday School teacher, greeter, and in numerous other ways at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church. He was also a member of The Gideons and was excited about sharing the good news of Jesus around the world.He worked for 42 years with Drexel Heritage Furniture, serving as supervisor of the finishing department in plant 3 & 5.

After the death of his first wife, Peggy, he was blessed to share five wonderful years of marriage with Lucy Ford Smith Denton.In addition to his mother and first wife, he was preceded in death by his sister, Esther Denton Smith, and his son, Richard Denton.Survivors include his wife, Lucy Denton of the home; children, Debbie Cramer of Morganton, Rev. Ed Denton and his wife, Julia of Durham, NC, and Steve Denton of Morganton; grandchildren, Ben Cramer, Chris Denton, and Cameron Denton; brother-in-law, Jim Swinson and his wife, Marie of San Diego, CA; and nieces, LaVerne Smith and her husband, Rick Trois of Anchorage, AK and Connie Smith King and her husband Cliff, of Fort Lauderdale, FL.The funeral will be held at 2:00 p.m., Monday, February 23, 2009 at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church with Rev. Dr. Larry Cline officiating. Burial with military honors by Valdese American Legion Post 234 will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends Sunday from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at Sossoman Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church Building Fund, 2396 Enola Road, Morganton, NC 28655; or to The Gideons International, P. O. Box 678, Morganton, NC 28680. Online condolences may be made at www.sossomanfuneralservice.com.