James Stanton Dalton, 80 of Harts, WV, departed this life on January 24, 2026 at St. Mary's Medical Center.

He was born December 17, 1945 in West Hamlin, WV the son of the late George and Eleanor “Leaner” Dalton.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his grandparents, Jim & Viola Dalton and Will & Martha Farley, brothers, Kennith and Donald Dalton, special cousin, Jennings Adkins, son-in-law, Gregory Browning and his father and mother-in-law, Alvis & Lizzie Vance.

James loved spending time with his family, gardening, deer and fox hunting, fishing yard work and watching his Purple Martins. He retired from ACF in Huntington, WV after 28 years.

Those left to cherish his memory include his loving wife of 60 years, Thelma Dalton; daughters, Sheila (Allen) Toppings and Dewanna Dalton; sisters, Verdella (Charlie) Paulsen, Marcella (Erbie) Smith and Kay (Randell) Vance; brother, Danny (Earsie) Dalton; grandchildren, Casey Toppings, Sheena (Justin) McCloud, Megan (Jamie) Hall and Kelsie (Brandon) Adams; great grandchildren, Maddix, Addyson, Cayde, Roze Toppings, Natalie, Lucas, Stanton Bryce McCloud, James Hall, Dalton and Waylon Adams; special brother-in-law, Alvis Vance JR; and a host of other family and friends.

Services will be held at 1:00pm, Sunday, February 1, 2026 at the Cole Branch Church with Jimmy Carter and Lewis “JR” Vance officiating. Burial will follow at the Dalton Cemetery at Harts, WV.

Visitation will be on Saturday, January 31, 2026 from 6:00pm until 10:00pm at the church.

Pallbearers will be Allen, Justin, Jamie, Casey, Mark and Dewanna.

Honorary pallbearers will be Maddix, James, Dalton, Lucas and Waylon.

Freeman Funeral Home, Chapmanville, WV is in charge of the arrangements.