Alan Peter Dalton

Alan Peter Clyde Dalton, patriarch of our family, went to be with the Lord on August 25, 2025 after a short illness. He was 92.

Adopted by his lovely Aunt Dena Floyd from Saco, Maine. She was 63, he was 6. He attended local schools in Saco and graduated from Thornton Academy in 1953. He, to this day, has track trophies in the sports case at Thornton.

After graduating he married, leaving 2 weeks later for Basic Training. He felt volunteering to join the Army was his civic duty and a valued opportunity to help his family. He served during the Korean War.

Alan was a prolific writer and photographer. One would rarely see him without a camera in his hand. He spent his working life as a salesman, a sports editor at the Kennebunk Star and, after moving his family from Maine to New Hampshire, at the Keene Evening Sentinel. In 1969 Alan divorced and made a move to California where he eventually started a successful restoration company in Fremont, which he owned and managed until retirement. He married a second time and had the opportunity to help raise his step daughters, Sherryl and Laurie.

Retirement was not a restful time for Alan who always had energy to burn. He published a magazine of his writings and photography and became an award-winning docent at Coyote Hills Regional Park. He also became a business mentor to many in his community.

Alan's leisure activities as a young man went from breeding and showing dogs on the American Kennel Club level having two dogs named Best In Show. He was a sulky racer of the Shetland ponies he raised, earning many awards. He was a surf fisherman, a softball pitcher into his sixties and was a California State Champion at horseshoe pitching. Whatever he did, he did with zest and intensity.

He was fascinated by nature and wildlife, especially American Eagles. Later in life he spent hours hiking local hills and parks, capturing images of wildlife, land and ocean scapes. Photography and Photoshop became an obsession that gave him purpose. Family images and wildlife images are his legacy to his family.

An avid sports fan he was loyal to his New England upbringing. He followed the Red Sox, the Celtics and the Patriots. After moving he did come to love the local teams, the A's, the Giants, the Warriors, the Raiders and the 49ers. This made for an interesting and sometimes playful competition between the East Coast Daltons and the West Coast Daltons. There was a crying towel involved which extended the West Coast Daltons from California to Seattle.

Alan loved life, wearing his 'In Training for a Longer Life' t-shirt he walked and went to the gym until his last 61-minute walk that he took the day before going into the hospital. Dancing was also a passion of his. He danced with exuberance into his 90's. He called it 'cutting a rug with the ladies'.

Alan is survived by his sister, Rae (Jim) Hight, sister, Evelyn Hussey, both of Washington State, daughter, Ann (Bill) Rupp of San Jose and his son, Michael (Robin) Dalton of Arundel, Maine. Preceding him in Death was brother, Larry and sisters Jackie and Marion.

He was much loved by his step daughters Sherryl and Laurie, his grandchildren Amanda, Katie, Sammy, Jefferson, Kara, Vinny, Justin and Aaron. He was a loving and nurturing GG to his great-grandchildren Addison, Keegan, Cassie, Amaya, Julian, Ayden, Luke, Kayla and Jacob as well as many nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life will be held at

Trinity Presbyterian Church

3151 Union Ave, San Jose 95124

Sunday, August 31st at 2:30pm

In lieu of flowers the family requests a donation to the Wounded Warriors Project in the name of Alan Dalton

Go to: Wounded Warrior Project