Kenneth Owen Dalton, 47, of Meadows of Dan, passed away on Saturday, March 27, 2010 as the result of a farming accident.

He will be deeply missed by his wife of 22 years Cindy Moles Dalton and son Zachary James Dalton; his parents, Owen and Lois Dalton of Meadows of Dan; sister Lora D. Epperly of Christiansburg; brother Alan Dalton and wife Molly of Fredericksburg, sister Mary D. Tabor and husband Tommy of Dublin, sister Connie D. Bryant and husband Brad of Christiansburg, and sister Cathy D. Lindsey and husband Randy of Locust, NC; nieces Katlyn Epperly, Emily Dalton, and Grace Dalton; and nephews Thomas Tabor, Jacob Tabor, Austin Lindsey and Connor Lindsey; devoted friends Bobby and Jewel Spencer, Melvin Terry, and James Ray Phillips. Also surviving are sisters-in-law & spouses Joyce Hawks and husband Dale and Judy Haden and husband Gary; brother-in-law & spouse Kenny Moles and wife Connie; and other nieces and nephews: Samantha Dollyhite, Brandon Hawks, and Ronalda Parries of Mount Airy, NC; Tabitha Stanley and Christopher Haden of Stuart; Rodney Mills and Caroline Merz of Grand Haven, MI; and Tracy Motes of Indianapolis, IN.

Kenneth was the owner of Sunset Farms, a greenhouse and produce operation in Meadows of Dan. He was a lifetime member of the Laurel Fork Volunteer Fire Department and a current board member of the Carroll County Farm Bureau.

Kenneth was the 1980 national winner of the FFA Fruit and Vegetable Production award where he participated in a three week educational tour of farms in Europe.

Kenneth lived his dream of becoming an agricultural producer. He enjoyed the hard work and freedom of growing crops and livestock. He loved the smell of freshly plowed earth and took every opportunity to pass his love of farming to his son. He spent each day of the past two and half years providing love and life lessons to Zachary.

His easygoing personality and knowledge of the land made him the perfect husband, father, son, brother, farmer, and friend.

The funeral service will be held on Wednesday, March 31, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. at the New Bell Spur Primitive Baptist Church at 3400 Terrys Mill Road in Meadows of Dan with Elder Tim McGrady and Tommy Tabor officiating. Interment will be at the church cemetery.

The family will receive friends on Tuesday, March 30, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Vaughan-Guynn-McGrady Funeral Home located at 1035 North Main Street in Hillsville.

In lieu of flowers, a Zachary Dalton Education Fund has been established at Surrey Bank & Trust, Mt. Airy, NC. Contributions can be made at any Surrey Bank & Trust branch office or mailed to Bob Spencer, Custodian, 424 Park Bridge Road, Meadows of Dan, VA 24120.