Newman Lee Preston Dalton, Jr.

Lt. Colonel Newman Lee Preston Dalton, Jr., was born October 29, 1947, in Salisbury, North Carolina, to Newman Lee Preston, Sr. and Clara Elizabeth Dalton.  He was the oldest of two children.  At 74, he entered the church triumphant in Aurora, Colorado on February 2, 2022, surrounded by his loving family.

Newman was raised in a nurturing family and was surrounded by grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, having grown up on Dalton Road, in Mocksville, North Carolina.  At an early age, he was baptized and became a member of Chinquapin Grove Baptist Church.

Newman graduated from Davie County Training School in Mocksville, North Carolina, where he excelled in academics and was a basketball star.  He continued his education at North Carolina A&T State University, in Greensboro, North Carolina.  He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Professional History, and was commissioned upon graduation as an Air Force 2nd Lieutenant.  Greensboro was also where he met his loving wife of 51 years, Ethan Wara Keyes of New Bern, North Carolina, a graduate of UNC-Greensboro.

Newman worked with the Model Cities Program in Flint, Michigan, and was a proud member of Alpha Phi Omega Fraternity, the Arnold Air Society, track team, and many other organizations.  After his graduation from North Carolina A&T, he taught history courses there as a Graduate Teaching Fellow.  He also attended the University of Michigan where he worked on his Master’s degree in urban planning.  He served over 25 years in the United States Air Force and received a Master’s equivalent in the Air Force.  He was stationed at Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, Nebraska, where he was an Education Officer and a Deputy Wing Training Officer. At Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, he was Assistant Department Head of Nonresident Programs at the School of Systems and Logistics at the Air Force Institute of Technology.  At Castle Air Force Base in Atwater, California, he was Director of Scheduling for Ground Training.  Newman’s last military assignment was at Lowry Air Force Base, in Denver, Colorado, where he retired as Chief of Education and Training.

Newman received numerous military decorations, some of which were the Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (Two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters), National Defense Service Medal, and a Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon.  He and Ethan also took private pilot lessons together.

He served as the first African-American elected to the Board of Directors of SAC Credit Union at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska, and served on the Board of Directors at Castle Credit Union, at Castle Air Force Base, California.  He was a member of the Kiwanis Club, Air Force Association, Air Reserve Officers Association, the Breakfast Bunch of Denver, Colorado, and others.

Newman still had other callings to complete.  After retiring from the military, and being recruited by Denver Public Schools, he taught in every grade level-elementary, middle, and high school. In addition, he worked as a community liaison in Denver Public Schools at Prep Alternative School.  He made it his mission to meet parents and grandparents of his students, which was a great impetus in educating the whole student.  His impact in helping students succeed was seen at every level.  He taught college courses at Montbello High School in the Post Secondary Options Program, and worked additional days with students to supervise and help students to search for scholarship information.  Additionally, he was a Western Civilizations instructor at the Community College of Denver.

Newman lived everyday with joy and purpose.  He was a fierce lover of family and friends, and never met a stranger.  He had a gift of gab.  He was a generous and giving man, who always saw the good in everyone, and was always going above and beyond to help others.  He had a way of making everyone feel special.  All who knew him could not come away without the effect of his outgoing personality.  He will always be remembered for his great sense of humor.  He loved to make people laugh and was always quick with a joke or a silly antic.

Newman and his family spent lots of quality time together, attending and supporting the childrens’ plethora of activities both in and outside of school.  They took many fun road trips from their military homes back to North Carolina, keeping in close connection with family back home.

He and his family became members of the United Church of Montbello, where one of his favorite activities was helping the men to cook breakfast for the congregation for Easter Sunrise Service.  In addition, they developed strong ties with friends everywhere they were stationed, and friends became family.

Newman leaves behind his devoted wife, Ethan Keyes Dalton; his loving mother, Clara Elizabeth Dalton; loving children, Nicole D. Tann (Jesse D. Tann II), of Centennial, Colorado; Natalie D. Lamberton, of Denver, Colorado; Newman Dalton, IV (Ivie Dalton), of Keller, Texas; granddaughter Jalynn Tann and grandson Jesse Tann, III, of Centennial, Colorado; sister Darnell Dalton-Carter, of Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Brother-in-law and Sister-in-law, Warren and Judy Keyes, of Raleigh, North Carolina; nieces, nephews, numerous cousins, and countless dear friends.

A Visitation will be from 10:00-11:00am, followed by the Funeral Service at 11:00am on Monday, February 14th at Horan & McConaty Funeral Services, 1091 S. Colorado Blvd., Denver, CO  80246. The family requests that all guests please wear masks. Thank you.

A recording of the service that was live streamed can be viewed here: https://bxcited.com/newman-lee-preston-dalton-jr/

Military Honors will be presented at Fort Logan National Cemetery, 3698 S. Sheridan Blvd. 80236, Denver, on Monday, February 14th, at 2:15pm, in Pavilion ‘C’. Please gather at Staging Area ‘C’ by 2:00pm.

Repast to follow the interment at Events @ Piney Creek, 15352 E. Ida Drive, Centennial, CO 80015

All are welcome to donate to the Memorial Fund with Ethan Dalton’s email or cell phone via Zelle at Wells Fargo, or send to the home. Thank you!

Family and friends are invited to leave memories of Mr. Dalton or condolences with his family by sharing on the adjoining tribute wall.