Elwin "Ed" Dalton

Elwin Edward “Ed” Dalton passed away peacefully at home at the age of 76 on Monday August 26th, 2024 surrounded by his daughters after a brief illness. He was born on January 30, 1948 to Edward Henry “Bud” Dalton and Betty Louise Thompson Dalton in Hendersonville, NC.

He attended Odell High School in Concord, NC and graduated from East Henderson High School in Hendersonville. In high school, Elwin was quite the athlete and was nicknamed “Worm” for his skills on the basketball court.

After high school, he attended Western Carolina University where he graduated with a BS in Business Administration on June 7th, 1970. While at WCU, he met Mary Lou Conrad who he wed on August 7th, 1971. After graduation, he applied to the US Secret Service. On May 14th, 1971, he completed the US Secret Service Recruit Course where he placed top in his recruiting class as the highest Pistol Marksman. Elwin would serve in Washington, DC under the Nixon Administration until he had a knee injury and returned home to Cabarrus County.

After the Secret Service, Elwin went on to work in the transportation industry with Wilson Trucking and AAA Cooper Transportation. He was a true salesman where he loved working with clients, making friendships and taking them to lunch. What he was truly known for was being a mentor and father figure to his coworkers. He would go on to lead industry organizations serving as President of The Charlotte Transportation Club and Transportation Education Associates of Charlotte.

His greatest joy was spending time with his daughters, grandchildren and siblings. When his daughters were young he taught them how to fish at Kure Beach pier, teaching them how to shoot at the family land, attending all of their sporting events, going to the golf range and taking them skating. Weekends were spent eating every Friday night at K&W Cafeteria, having the girls friends and cousins over dancing around the house, making bonfires, playing basketball and hosting sleepovers. Daddy was always the life of the party and he loved this quality time with his girls.

He loved getting together for family fish fries, going hunting and fishing with his brothers and nephews, spending time with his sisters and eating Lana’s potato salad and chinese food.

After retiring from AAA Cooper, he spent his early retirement years working at KS Image Solutions with his daughters Kristel and Leslie. This was a very special time where he was able to pickup his grandkids from school, help them with homework and make rabbit traps.

Elwin was a giver and protector. He would do anything for anyone in need whether it was food, money or love. He would always end a call or visit with “Call me if you need anything”. He will be greatly missed, and we are glad to know he will be in Heaven fishing, hunting and eating with family. He left this earth at peace.

Elwin was preceded in death by his parents, sister Lana June Dalton, brother Franklin Ladd Dalton and brother Strickland Charles Dalton.

He leaves behind his three well-loved daughters, Karen “Lynne” Golie (Rick), Kristel Leigh Swayze (Ken) and Karolyn “Leslie” Santiago (Emilio). Elwin and Lou divorced but continued to have a wonderful love and friendship. Elwin is survived by his sister Diana Camp, brother Olin Dalton (Melvia), sister Rhoda Locklear (Gary), sisters-in-laws Joanie Dalton and Susan Dalton, bonus sister Sherry Plummer (Ron), Uncle Bob “Rufus” Thompson and many special cousins.

Elwin was extremely proud of the legacy that he is leaving behind with his grandchildren, Sarah Golie, Ryann Walker (Bryan), Mary Swayze, Hannah Golie, Nathan Golie, Dalton Rogers, William Swayze and Gavin Santiago. He loved his nieces and nephews, Joseph Dalton, Erin Dalton Plummer, Jacob Dalton, Ian Dalton, Nikki Camp Coulter, Ashley Dalton Manship, Gray Camp, Erik Dalton, Lucas Dalton, Ryan Locklear and Lesley Locklear Winchester, as well as many great nieces and nephews. Elwin was blessed to have wonderful friendships and to be survived by his best friends, Charlie Jones, Kyle Christian and Jerry Frisbee, as well as neighbor Kathi Hissong who always kept an eye out for Daddy and helped over the years.

The family will hold a visitation Saturday, August 31st from 1:00-3:00 PM with a 3:00 PM service by Pastor Wes Judy at Wilkinson Funeral Home.

The family would like to thank Dr. Victor Ha and Atrium Hospice Care of Cabarrus County who cared for Daddy with compassion over the years and during his brief illness.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Cabarrus Meals on Wheels, 342 Penny Lane, Concord, NC 28025; the Boys & Girls Club of Cabarrus County, P.O. Box 1405 Concord, NC 28026; and the Cabarrus Healthcare Foundation, 920 Church Street N. Concord, NC 28025.