Allen Ray Sutton, age 94, of Rt. 97 Waterford, died at his home on Sunday, January 3, 2010 after a short illness. Born in Arbovale, WV on September 18, 1915, he was the son of the late Herbert Adam and Henrietta Ratliff Sutton. He married Mary Marie Keen on October 14, 1942 and she preceded him in death on June 11, 1988.
Al lived most of his life in Cambridge Springs and worked at many different jobs. He operated a dairy farm in Venango for several years until 1952 and then worked at General Electric for the next eight years. For a short time, he was employed by General Motors in Buffalo, NY before accepting a job at what is now the Northwestern Rural Electric Co-Op Association in Cambridge Springs. He retired from there in 1980. Also during these years and after retiring, he worked at Turner’s Mill, Mellon Bank, and the First Presbyterian Church, all in Cambridge Springs.
Even in his later years, Al enjoyed life and people, and he remained active until his last few months. He was an accomplished dancer and was a member of the Stardust Dance Club and the U.S. Amateur Ballroom Dancers’ Association. One of his greatest pleasures was to meet friends and go dancing. He also belonged to the Siebenbuerger Club, the East Erie Turners, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, and he enjoyed taking piano lessons and playing classical music. He was affiliated with the First Church of God in Cambridge Springs, McLane Church in Edinboro, and Asbury United Methodist Church in Waterford.
In addition to his wife Marie, he was preceded in death by his two sisters, Ruth Cubbage and Judith Maxwell; and two half sisters, Naomi June Hoyet and Clara Mae Smith.
Survivors include his daughter, Joyce Sutton, formerly of Hampton, VA; four grandchildren, Jason, Julie, Joshua, and JoAnna; ten great-grandchildren; his half sister, Alice Sutton Guire of Norton, VA; three half brothers, William Herbert Sutton and wife Julie of Hayden, CO, Ivan Clark Sutton and his wife Bessie of Sykesville, MD, and James Milton Sutton and wife Marguerite of Elkton, MD.
Friends may call at the Van Matre Funeral Home of Waterford, on Thursday from 10:00am until time of the funeral service at 11:00am. Burial will be in Stevenson Cemetery, Greenville, PA.
Please accept our deepest sympathy on your loss. His half sister, Naomi June Hoyet, who passed away May 10, 2007, was my stepmother, and we will never forget that he drove all the way from Waterford to Kittanning at age 92 to attend her funeral. Shortly after we moved to Meadville in 1988 Allen was invited to our home for Easter dinner along with Dad and June. June had a good visit with her half brother and we all enjoyed interesting conversation. We heard about his dwarf apple orchard that the horticulture department of a college (if my memory serves me correctly, it was Penn State) ) used as a teaching tool for students. While we were talking about apples, I remember him saying that if I wanted a really good apple, I should try Ida Reds. To this day it is one of my all-time favorites, even beating out my first choice of the Golden Delicious. We also were amazed at Allen’s love for dancing and are convinced it kept him young in heart and body. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
I believe Allen and my mother(Gertrude Sutton) were cousins.She passed away in 1978.
To all the survivors, I am sorry for your loss.I never got to know Allen but my Uncle Ted Sutton talked of him to me many times.
I visited Arbovale quite a few years ago.I went there to see my mother’s birthplace during one of the Sutton reunions.