George F. "Dalton" Jennings

North Little Rock, Ark. resident George F. D. "Dalton" Jennings, 92, died January 12, 2016, at the Little Rock VA hospital, after a short illness. Dalton Jennings was born on November 12, 1923, in Gorby, Ark. to Homer and Cora Jennings. He grew up in Northern Arkansas, living first in Brockwell and then at Crossroads. He was a storyteller who enjoyed nothing more than passing down tales about his ancestors. Dalton was an educated man, who graduated from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, and loved the Razorbacks. He was a teacher, a school supervisor, and an Arkansas State Representative from Izard County in the 57th general assembly (1949-50). He was a bomber pilot during World War II, who flew B-24's and B29's in the Pacific theater, and cargo planes in the Korean War. Dalton served for 28 years in the Air Force and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. During his peacetime military service he was stationed in Puerto Rico, Japan, Alabama, and Turkey—and took his family along for the ride. After retiring from the Air Force in 1970, Dalton moved back to his beloved Arkansas and settled in North Little Rock, where he went to work for his friend and former collage classmate, the newly elected governor, Dale Bumpers, first as his Commissioner of Welfare and then as Director of Social Services. He then worked for Gov. David Pryor as Director of the Alcoholic Safety Action Project. He is the recipient of the first Presidential Award of the American Nursing Home Association, and the Better Life Award of the Arkansas Nursing Home Association for dedication and perseverance of the highest ideals toward the preservation of human dignity for his fellow man. In 1976, Dalton retired for good and spent his time reading and exercising and enjoying life with his wife of 63 years, Wilma (Estes). He was a proud grandfather to Christopher and Zachary Pallone, Allison Jennings Brown, Brandi Jennings, Jessica Virden Mallett, Bryant Virden, and Elijah Virden; and great grandfather to Brooklyn Brown, Avery Brown, and Anna Faye Virden, all of whom he loved very much. He is survived by two sons and two daughters: Deborah Pallone, Jay Jennings, Janna Virden (Bart), and Danton Jennings. Dalton was preceded in death by his brother, Walton, followed by his parents, his sister, Annie Rae Gray, and then Wilma, his loving wife, who passed away in 2012. His family would like to thank the nurses and doctors at the Little Rock VA, who took such good care of him during his illness, and during the many years of quality health care prior to his passing. An hour-long viewing will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, January 16, at Eddie's Funeral Home in Calico Rock, Ark., followed immediately by a military funeral graveside service at Wises Chapel Cemetery in Pineville, Ark.