Orton, Ramon

Ramon Orton died at home on April 22, 2022 in Blacksburg, VA due to complications following an extended illness. He was 89 years old.
He was born on April 3, 1933 in Corinth, NY to his parents, Robert and Mildred Orton.

Ramon grew up in Corinth, graduating from Corinth High School where he met his wife, Betty Dayton. He also was state champion in downhill skiing in the Empire State games. They were married in 1953. Together they raised a family of 5 children and lived in several different locations in multiple cities in NY, Huntsville, AL and Christiansburg, VA until Betty’s death in 2011. Ramon had a successful career working for IBM. The pinnacle was his work on the Apollo space program. Betty worked as a nurse and stay-at-home mom. As a widower, Ramon moved around, living near his children and stayed involved with his growing family of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Ramon was a man with many interests including sailing, hiking in the mountains, reading, drawing/painting and photography. His love of sailing was life-long, starting with both his father and him serving in the Navy. He owned several sailboats during his life culminating with him living on a sailboat for several years. He also loved contributing to his extended family and friends’ lives.

Ramon is survived by his five children and spouses: David and Lisa(Dombroski) Orton, Dennis and Barbara(Murray) Orton, Duane and Robin Ann(Strein) Orton, Pamela(Orton) and Jack Pichette and Robin Ailene(Orton) and Jonathan Tagg. He also had 16 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.

A funeral will be held on April 29, 2022 at McCoy Funeral Home in Blacksburg, VA. Visitation at 10:30am. Funeral at 11am. Everyone is welcome to help the family celebrate Ramon’s life.

Ramon will be buried next to his wife, Betty in Corinth Rural Cemetery in Corinth, NY.