William J. Deighton

YARMOUTH PORT William James Deighton, of Yarmouth Port, died Sept. 2, after a long period of declining health. He was born in Brockton, in 1921, a son of Robert and Myrtie (Kennedy) Deighton. William graduated from Brockton High School in 1938. He left a job at the Watertown Arsenal in 1942 to join the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. Mr. Deighton is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Rita Lyons Deighton. He leaves two daughters, Elizabeth Casson and husband Kenneth of Yarmouth Port, Kathleen Regan and husband Michael of Kittery, Maine; his granddaughters, Emily and husband Todd Thomson, Julie and husband Nick Giannotti; grandson, Daniel Regan and fianc Jeni Foster; and one great-grandson, Matthew Thompson. He was predeceased by his sister, Grace Nichols of Springfield, Mo.; and leaves his sister, Gertrude DeCost of South Dennis; and brother, Robert Deighton of Kingston; his cousin, Loretta Dexter of Yarmouth; as well as many nieces and nephews. Mr. Deighton relocated to Cape Cod after retiring from FAA as an air traffic controller. For three years in the early 1950s, he co-owned the Old Colony Dairy Bar in Plymouth with his brother. As a boy, William read all of Charles Dickens novels and as an adult, he still enjoyed words by tackling the daily crossword puzzles. William was a longtime golfer until his health declined. He enjoyed golf with his wife, traveling to Prince Edward Island and Florida and get-togethers with family and friends. He always had a soft spot for animals and owned many pets. When he first retired to Cape Cod he greatly enjoyed its beautiful beaches, boating and clamming. He will be sadly missed by his family. Friends and relatives are invited to call from 5-7 p.m. Thursday in the Hallett Funeral Home, 273 Station Ave., South Yarmouth. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Pius X Church, Station Avenue, South Yarmouth. Burial will be at 1 p.m. Friday in Calvary Cemetery, Brockton. Contributions in his memory may be made to a charity of ones choice.