Wayne County Press
Thursday, Feb. 12, 1959
Sec. 6, p1, c4

Bernice (Bernie) Dalton, 49, well-known Mt. Erie farmer and garage operator, apparently took his own life at Salem Wednesday noon.

Mr. Dalton, reported to be staying at Salem temporarily, shot himself at noon with a .22 caliber gun.  The shot entered his forehead.  He was found at the home of his ex-wife, May, by her when she arrived home.

He was taken to the Salem hospital.  An inquest will be held at Salem.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 Saturday afternoon from the Brown church, with Rev. Roy Collins officiating.  Interment will be in the church cemetery.

The body will be at a brother, Russell Dalton's home in Salem until the funeral hour.  The Crippin Funeral Home is in charge.

He was born April 20th, 1909, near Mt. Erie, the son of Joe and Bertie Dalton.  He grew to manhood in the vicinity of his birth and has lived there practically all his life.  In his youth he was converted to Christ and joined the Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist church.

On December 26th, 1927, he was married to Lulu May Pitcher, with five children born to this union.  Two children died in infancy.

Surviving are three sons, Morris, George and Freddie, all of Salem; one brother, Russell, of Salem; and one sister, Mrs. Leo Fehr, of Springfield.