Slayton, John Fremont, of Bellingham, died peacefully surrounded by his family on May 4th at UMass Memorial Hospital in Worcester after a long illness. He was 85 years old. John was the son of the late Ralph and Ruth Slayton of Melrose and Weston. Beloved and devoted father of Beverly Slayton and her husband Karl Heinemann of Acton, Stephanie Gazell and her husband Thomas of Watertown, Thomas and his wife Cynthia of Medway, Heather Anne of West Tisbury, Meredith and her partner Marc Street of Oak Bluffs and Wellington, Florida, and Andrew and his wife Elyse of Denver, Colorado. Proud grandfather of John Thomas, Michael, Willson, and Lindsey Slayton, and Liam Street. Loving brother of Hawley and his wife MaryAnn Slayton of Sparks, Nevada. He is also survived by the mothers of his children and close friends Elizabeth Slayton and Marsha Slayton, and many nieces and nephews.
John was raised in Weston and graduated from Kimball Union Academy in Meriden, New Hampshire. He attended Dartmouth College and Boston University. He was a World War II veteran and was proud to serve as a United States Marine Corps aviator in the Pacific theater, achieving the rank of Sergeant. He was employed for over 30 years at the New England Deaconess Hospital in Boston as night administrator. He had an extraordinary fascination with the natural world in all forms, and with books, history and poetry. John shared a deep love with his six children, five grandchildren and extended family, and his acts of kindness reached well beyond usual boundaries; to people from all walks of life. To meet him was to make a friend.
Services and interment are private and a celebration of Mr. Slayton's life will be held at a future date. The family suggests donations in his memory be made to the Paralyzed Veterans of America, at PVA Donation Processing Center, 801 18th St. NW Washington,DC 20006 (www.pva.org)
Arrangements and online condolence- Ginley Crowley Funeral home Medway, MA http://www.ginleyfuneralhomes.com