Dalton
Anthony P. Dalton, M.D., 67, passed away 5/14/16 at his home in Cookeville. His funeral services were held 5/20/16.
Dr. Dalton was born 2/1/1949 in Troy, New York to Edward and Cynthia Dalton, now deceased.
He was a classically trained pianist and clarinetist who was granted the privilege of directing the New York Symphonic band while still in High School because of his prodigious talent.
Dr. Dalton graduated Cum Laude from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska and graduated from Creighton University Medical School in 1975 and began his career as an Orthopedic Surgeon in Port Washington, Wisconsin until 1997. He was accepted to the Harvard Kennedy School of Business in 1997 but opted to continue with his surgical career and in 1998 he relocated to Tennessee, joining a practice in Lebanon, Tennessee but subsequently establishing solo practice in 1999 in Cookeville, Livingston, and Smithville, Tennessee subsequently retiring in 2010 as a result of medical issues following knee and heart surgeries in December of 2009.
Dr. Dalton always pursued education, at one time earning the American Medical Association’s award for the most CME’s attained nationwide in that particular year. Dr. Dalton earned a Master’s Degree in Medical Management in May of 2009 from the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business followed by Certification in Medical Informatics from Oregon State University. Following his retirement from medicine, he completed the necessary requirements to earn a license to sell insurance products.
Dr. Dalton was very involved in his church functions at St. Thomas Aquinas in Cookeville, Tennessee where he served over many years as a Eucharistic Minister for the homebound, Lector, a pianist for mass, and as a teacher of Catholic education, a source of great pride for him that he said surpassed any diploma or award he had ever received.
Dr. Dalton lived and practiced his faith so passionately that he inspired others to return to the Church. As a physician, his loving touch and example of praying with patients prior to surgery were a constant inspiration to those fortunate enough to have known him. The loving care he gave to his mother, Cynthia Dalton, who lived with him the last 7 years of her life, prior to her passing in June of 2015 were a witness to the faith he professed.
He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and brother and is survived by his wife and best friend of 22 years, Karen A. Dalton of Cookeville, three step-sons, whom he considered sons, Ryan Thornton of Cookeville, Joshua Thornton of Gainesboro and his children Alexie Thornton, Jayden Thornton, and Brent Thornton, and son SFC Charles Thornton of Virginia and his children Ashley Beckett, Daniel Beckett, Jamie Beckett, Charles Thornton Jr., Sydney Thornton and Bailey Grace Thornton. He is survived by his two daughters in Wisconsin, Kaitlyn Szpak, Ashley Bourke and their two daughters whose names are unknown.
Dr. Dalton touched many lives through his 35 years of caring for patients. The influence he had on his family members will effect generations, and the world was a better place because of him.
The family requests memorial contributions be made in his name to the music program at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 421 N. Washington, Cookeville, TN 38501.
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