Joseph Linford Orton, age 77, passed away October 15, 1998 at Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada.
He was born March 10, 1921 in Panguitch, Utah. He was the youngest of 10 children born to Henry Sadler and Elizabeth Linford Orton. He married Reva Houston, August 28, 1943. Their marriage was later solemnized in the St. George LDS Temple. Lin was raised in Panguitch on the family farm until he was 12. His family then moved to town and Lin started working in Frank's grocery store, where he worked on and off until after he was married. Lin was inducted into the Air Force and was stationed in Denver, CO; Fresno, CA; San Antonio, TX; and Greenville, MS. Reva and oldest son, Sterling traveled with him to Denver and Fresno; and then to Mississippi along with additional son, Raymond, where his army career ended. They returned to Panguitch where sons, Rod and Ken, were born, and moved to Cedar City in the 1950's, where they raised their family and started Lin's Market Place. Today the family business has expanded including Cedar City, St. George, Hurricane, and Richfield. He was a generous supporter of the communities and was an active community leader. He was past Board of Director of Associated Foods and Utah Grocers. "His influence in the grocery business will be greatly missed."Lin was a race horse fan. His horses have raced around the Western United States including UT, CA, Mexico, AZ and various other places. He had his own brood mares and raised and trained the horses from birth. He was also involved in land development in Southern Utah.
Lin was always generous and kind hearted. He was courageous and fun loving. He was honest and compassionate to "all walks of life." Lin was a friend to many and was a loving husband, father and grandfather, who will be dearly missed.
Survivors include his wife, Reva; four sons: Joseph Sterling (Susan) Orton, of Cedar City; Raymond H. (Dorothy) Orton, Rodney K. (Michelle) Orton, of St. George; Kenneth Wayne (Sylvia) Orton, of San Diego, CA; 20 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren; one brother: Frank Orton, of Panguitch; three sisters: Merle Errett, of Burbank, CA; Lola Farnsworth, of St. George; Emma Houston, of Kanab. He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings: Max, Rex, Cecil Orton and Hilda Orton Chidister.
Funeral service will be held Mon., October 19, 1998 at 11 a.m. in the Dixie Downs Stake Center, 1184 North Dixie Downs Rd. Friends may call Sun. evening from 6 to 8 p.m. at Spilsbury and Beard Mortuary, 110 S. Bluff, in St. George and Mon. morning from 9:30 until time of service at the Church. Interment will be in the St. George Cemetery under the direction of Spilsbury and Beard Mortuary, St. George, UT-673-2454.
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