Susan R. Dalton, born Jan. 1, 1945, died on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010 at
Penn Hospice in Philadelphia of multiple system failure after a five
month fight. She had battled and won her bout with lung cancer in 2009.
Born in Philadelphia, PA, she was the daughter of the late Edward and
Mary Haughey (Tinneny).
Mrs. Dalton grew up in the Roxborough section of Philadelphia and was a
1962 graduate from St. John the Baptist High School in Manayunk. She was
the middle child of 5, 1 brother and 3 sisters. She graduated from St.
Joseph Hospital School of Nursing in 1965 and worked at Philadelphia
General Hospital in 1966. At the age of 21, she joined the Air Force as
a nurse. In 1967, she was stationed in Cameron Bay, Vietnam as a
Captain. She was honored with a bronze star in 1968 recognizing that
while "laboring under the stress of large numbers of fresh battle
casualties, her sincere interest, untiring efforts, and professional
devotion to the highest ideals of nursing have provided an outstanding
quality of care, meeting the physical and emotional needs of these
wounded men." From 1968-1970 she was stationed at Tachikawa Air
Force Base, Japan where she met her husband, Captain Joseph Dalton whom
she married in 1970. In 1970 she was stationed in Luke Air Force Base in
Arizona and was honorably discharged in 1971. In July, 1971 her son,
Brian Dalton, was born. She continued working as a nurse in a local
hospital. In February, 1973 her daughter, Lisa Dalton, was born. In late
summer 1973, she moved to Ankara, Turkey. She moved to Nellis Air Force
Base in Nevada in 1975 and worked at local hospitals. In 1978, she moved
to Harrisburg, PA, continued nursing and continued her education. She
received her B.A. degree from Pennsylvania State University, Middletown
Campus. In 1984, she moved to Howell, NJ, continued nursing and raising
her children. In 2002, Mrs. Dalton retired as an operating room nurse
from Brick Hospital. In 2003, she received the New Jersey Vietnam
Service Medal and the New Jersey Meritorious Service Medal. Throughout
her life, and into retirement, Mrs. Dalton enjoyed raising her children,
entertaining friends of her children, floating in the waves of Manasquan
beach, politics, traveling, sports, gardening, music and dancing, family
gatherings, the porches of the Chapter House in Howell, NJ and the Crab
Trap in Somers Point, NJ. She will be remembered as a sassy, witty,
feisty, vibrant, nurturing, loyal, loving, strong, proud and funny wife,
mother, daughter, sister, aunt, friend, veteran and nurse.
Mrs. Dalton is survived by her husband, Joseph of Howell, NJ; her son,
Brian (Amy) Dalton of Alexandria, VA; her daughter, Lisa (Martin
Swaggard) Dalton of Wayne, PA; her brother, Spence Haughey of Malvern,
PA, and her sisters, Mary Lee Simpson of Philadelphia, PA, Ann (Joseph)
Lerro of Cape May, NJ and Faith Coyne of Philadelphia, PA.
Relatives and friends are invited to her Funeral Mass Friday, Jan. 22,
2010 10 AM St. Katharine of Siena Church, 104 S. Aberdeen Avenue, Wayne,
PA, where friends may call in Church 9:00-9:45 AM. Interment will follow
in Arlington National Cemetery, Monday, March 1, 2010 at 2:30 PM. In
lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory to the Wounded Warrior
Project, 7020 A.C. Skinner Parkway, Suite 100, Jacksonville, FL 32256
would be appreciated. Arrangements by The Donohue Funeral Home, 366 W.
Lancaster Avenue, Wayne, PA. (Obituary from the Asbury
Park Press)
Susan was the great granddaughter of
Yankee Pat Tinneny
of Goladuff, Newtownbutler, Co. Fermanagh, Ireland; Greenock,
Scotland and Philadelphia. She was granddaughter of
James and Gertrude
Tinneny of Philadelphia.
