Billy "Bill" Orton

Billy Jack “Bill” Orton, 88, of Moberly, died Saturday, October 20, 2018.

He was born September 13, 1930 in Paris, MO to Edwin Clare and Anna Lillian (Eichor) Orton.

Bill was reared on a 400 acre farm near Middle Grove, MO. He lived his entire life in the Middle Grove, Madison and Moberly area.

In the early 1950s, he and his father-in-law, Alvin Wilkinson, Sr. constructed Holiday Acres lake. From 1953 to 1978, Bill owned and operated his own heavy equipment business, employing as many as 18 men and was very proud of the many businesses he had done work for over the years prior to his retirement.

From 1974 to 1987 Bill and his family produced “Orton’s Gospel Singing by the Lake” at his rural Moberly home.

Bill married Margaret Deloris Wilkinson on October 29, 1950 in Middle Grove, MO and she preceded him in death on May 1, 2018. Also preceding him in death were his parents and a brother Edwin F. Orton.

Survivors include his children; Billy W. Orton and his wife Janice of New Franklin, MO and Deryl D. Orton and Barbara McEwen of Moberly, a granddaughter, Meredith Deeann Orton of Lompoc, CA, a brother, John F. Orton and his wife Jane Kay of Moberly, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Bill was a member of the Trinity United Methodist Church and former 50 year member of the New Hope Methodist Church, the Moberly Jaycees, the Moberly Lions Club, the Randolph County Flywheel Club, the Vintage Green 2-Cylinder Club and the Missouri Land Improvement Contractors. In 1975 he and his beloved wife were honored by the Missouri Land Improvement Contractors as “Contractor of the Year”, which he was very proud of; Bill was a former member and past president of the Moberly Parks Board.

Bill’s first and foremost hobby was his family. He loved to watch the new generations of Orton’s grow up and always treasured family reunions. He loved to mow grass and had a friendly competition with his next door neighbor to see who could get out and mow the yard first in the Spring!

In the late 1980s Bill got heavily involved in exhibiting antique tractors at various shows in the area and attended larger shows such as those in Mt. Pleasant, IA and Colchester, IL.

Bill never knew a stranger and was always able to talk to anyone. He will always be remembered for his wit and joke-telling and a bit of mimicry!

Memorial contributions to the Trinity United Methodist Church would be appreciated.

 Services honoring and celebrating Bill’s life were held at the Trinity United Methodist Church. Committal prayers and entombmemt followed at the Resurrection Mausoleum.