Allen Orton

SALEM Allen Orton passed away on Saturday, June 28, 2008. He was born in Salem, N.Y., on Sept. 8, 1920. Allen graduated from Salem Washington Academy in 1938, and from Union College in 1942. After serving in the Army Air Corps in World War II, he remained in the Air Force Reserve and rose to the rank of colonel. After the war he received his M.A. in International Affairs from Columbia Univeristy, and subsequently joined the newly formed Central Intelligence Agency as an analyst specializing in the Soviet Union. After retiring from the CIA he worked part time for the Presbyterian Church hunger program in the Appalachian region. He had a lifetime involvement in issues of peace, social justice and poverty. He was predeceased by his first wife, Faye Earman, brother, Julian Orton and sister, Janice Spallholz. Surviving relatives are his wife of 29 years, Jean Wagner Orton; sister, Anne Torrens; daughters, Faith Ross and Jillian Graham; and stepchildren, Paul Wagner, David Wagner, Gail Kuist, Meeredith Ebersole, their spouses and nine grandchildren. A memorial service will be held in the fall. Burial will be at Evergreen Cemetery, Salem, N.Y. Donations in memory of Allen may be made to a charity of one's choice.