Thomas Cullen Dalton
Virginia Beach, VA
Thomas Cullen, "Cully", age 75, of Virginia Beach, was born November 26, 1932, 
in Richmond, and died November 29, 2007. He is survived by his devoted wife of 
31 years, Rev. Elinor Ritchie Dalton; a son, John Ritchie Dalton and wife; and 
granddaughters, Parker and Hayden. He was one of the children of Dorothy 
Grizzard and Rufus Edwin Dalton Jr. and was predeceased by one sister, Nancy Lee.
He is also survived by a sister, Jean Dalton Coggins and her husband of Cary, 
N.C.; a brother, Rufus Edward Dalton; and a former sister-in-law, Charlyne 
Murphy Dalton. He also leaves behind nieces and nephews, several cousins, and 
a host of friends. He grew up in Portsmouth, where he graduated from Woodrow 
Wilson High School. While there, he was a co-captain of the basketball and 
football teams. He earned a BA from University of Richmond, where he was on 
the basketball team; a MEd at William and Mary; and EdD at the University of 
Virginia. He was a basketball coach at Churchland High School, and principal 
at Deep Creek Elementary and Great Bridge High Schools. Later on, he was 
administrative assistant to the president of Longwood College for 13 years. He 
was a Mason, a member of Phi Delta Kappa Education Fraternity, and the "No 
Name Sports Club" in Portsmouth. He also belonged to the Virginia Beach United 
Methodist Church, serving as Sunday school superintendent for several years.
Burial was in Princess Anne Memorial Park.