Allen A. Lawton

Allen A. Lawton of Portland, Connecticut, passed away on Friday December 6, 2013, at his home at the age of 89. Born in Cranston, Rhode Island in 1924, he was the son of Theodore H. Lawton and Evelyn Whitford Lawton. He was a devoted, family-oriented husband and father who was predeceased by his wife of 54 years, Nancy Winship Lawton. He leaves three sons, Allen Lawton, Jr. and his wife Karen of Bolton, Richard Lawton and his wife Henrietta of Portland and Jeff Lawton of Middletown; two daughters, Linda Naughton and her husband, Michael of Franklin, MA, and Donna Lawton and her husband, Richard Biehl of Arlington, VA; and 12 grandchildren, 4 greatgrandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by two brothers, Charlie and Jack. After high school in 1943, he entered the WWII Army Air Corps Aviation Cadet Program from which he graduated as a pilot in November 1944. In 1945, he flew C-46 Transport Planes across the infamous "Hump" mountains from India to China in support of the campaign to retake southern Burma. His squadron moved to Okinawa in the Pacific in support of B-29 Bomber operations and movement of personnel and supplies for the expected invasion of Japan. After separation from active duty in December 1945, he attended Rhode Island State College, graduating from the engineering school in 1949. He then worked in the aerospace industry before being recalled into the USAF for the Korean War. After a tour of duty in Korea, he was assigned to the Aircraft Laboratory of the Wright Air Development Center. Upon separation from active duty, he was employed at Pratt and Whitney in East Hartford for 35 years, working on various assignments in the Engineering Department. He was a coach in the Middlesex Youth Hockey Association for several years beginning with the start of the program and was a player himself in amateur circles. For several years he served on the committee of the Portland High School Dollars for Scholars program. Always an aviation buff, he enjoyed participation in the free flight discipline of model aviation and attended competitions in several states, which led to friendships with people from all over the United States. He was a member of the Flying Aces Club and was a frequent contributor to the club newsletter for many years. He was a long time member of the Congregational Church in South Glastonbury Services will be private and at the convenience of the family. There are no calling hours. A reception for family and friends will be held at the South Glastonbury Congregational Church on December 21 at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs, 287 West Street, Rocky Hill, CT 06067. To send an online expression of sympathy, please visit www.portlandmemorialfh.net.