Arthur D. Dayton

Mr. Dayton died Friday, Nov. 7, 2003, at Memorial Hospital in Abilene.

He was born Jan. 26, 1938, in Ridgeley, W.Va., the son of Robert and Rhoda (Yoder) Dayton. He grew up in Short Gap, W.Va., and graduated from Fort Ashby High School in 1955. He received a bachelor of science degree from Berea College and his master’s and doctoral degrees from Michigan State University. He moved to Abilene in July from Lee’s Summit, Mo.

Mr. Dayton was on the faculty of the Department of Statistics at Kansas State University from 1966 to 1985 and served as its chairman for 10 years. He was a senior research scientist and associate director for Pfizer Pharmaceutical Co. in animal health research from 1985 until his retirement in 2001.

He was a member of Pinto Mennonite Church and attended First Baptist Church in Manhattan, and First Presbyterian Church in Lee’s Summit. He was a member of several professional and academic organizations, including American Statistical Assn., SAS Users Group International and Sigma Xi.

He married LaVonia Ballard on Nov. 15, 1957, in Pinto, Md. She survives of the home.

Other survivors include two daughters, Anne Kimberley Dayton, Minneapolis, Minn., and Alicia LaVonne Holaday, Abilene; a son, John David, San Francisco; three sisters, Anna Bishop, Sellersville, Pa., Virginia Moreland, Pinto, and Lois Morauski, Pueblo, Colo.; four brothers, Calvin and Philip, both of Short Gap, David, Ridgeley, and John, Blooming Glen, Pa.; and three grandchildren, including Colin, Lawrence.

A son, Artie Jr., died earlier.

Family will receive friends from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. today at the home of Alicia Holaday, 104 Xavier Drive, Abilene.

Martin-Becker-Carlson Funeral Home in Abilene is in charge of arrangements.