On Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020, James (Jim) Joseph Calton, loving husband and father of three children, eight grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren, passed away at the age of 87.
Jim was born on April 15, 1933, in Jersey City, New Jersey, to Daniel and Marion Calton. Having lost his mother at a very young age, he was raised by a beloved stepmother, Ann. He was preceded in death by all nine of his siblings. He was fond of telling stories of how he and his siblings grew up in a household of 12 that shared a bathroom with the family next door. Throughout his life, there was nothing more important to him than family and faith.
A Korean War-era veteran, he was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, from where he penned stacks of letters to the love of his life, Margaret Mary Middaugh (Peggy). They had met at a roller-skating rink, and according to Jim, “they have been going round and round ever since.” Married in 1957, the couple welcomed their son, Greg, and daughter Jill soon after.
Jim began his career working as a draftsman for the Western Electric Company in Kearney, New Jersey, which was a part of the Bell System. His career then took them to California where the family was rounded out with the birth of daughter Margaret (Meg). His Bell System career brought the family back to New Jersey for a two-year stint before returning to California, where he eventually retired as a District Manager for Pacific Bell.
Retirement brought a new chapter for Jim and Peggy, as they spent the next decade “road tripping” back and forth between California and their condo in Venice, Florida. While in the Sunshine State, they enjoyed regular excursions to the ballpark to cheer on the Sarasota White Sox and welcomed many of their grandchildren for extended visits, often including a trip to Disney World as part of the adventure. Florida also brought about the opportunity to spend extended time with his sister-in-law, Patricia, and her husband, Ken Widmaier. Ken and Jim could often be found playing a round of golf, and rumor has it, they found it necessary to skip a hole every once in a while to avoid an alligator sunning in the fairway. Finally, during their golden years, Jim and Peggy made one last relocation to the beautiful northwest, settling in Gig Harbor, Washington.
Jim was known for his quick wit as well as his kind and compassionate spirit. Throughout his life, he immensely enjoyed youth sports, attending all of his children’s baseball, softball, and other events. Later on, he would drive for great distances to cheer on his grandchildren in their youth, high school, and even collegiate sporting events.
Jim was preceded in death by his father, Daniel, mother, Marion, and stepmother, Ann. He is survived by his wife, Peggy; three children, Greg (Patricia), Jill Clancey (Kevin), and Meg Vieg (Brendan); grandchildren, Kayla Calton Ramirez (Nathan), Megan Clancey Humble (Ben), Michael Clancey (Gretchen), Kaitlyn Clancey Hasse (Jake), Kelly Calton Morrow (Pete), and Tatum, Shaley, and Campbell Vieg; and great-grandchildren, Noah and Theo Humble, Reagan and Rylee Ramirez, and Colin and Caden Clancey.
A funeral service will be held on Friday, Nov. 6, 2020, at Visitation Catholic Church, Tacoma, Washington, at 10:00 a.m. In keeping with Jim’s genuine love of the spirit of giving embodied in Christmas, memorial donations may be made to Operation Christmas Child.
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