LAKE WALES, Florida - Mr. Walter Thomas Taton, of Lake Wales died Saturday, October 21, 2006 at Good Shepherd Hospice in Auburndale, Florida. He was 83.

Born on January 29, 1923 in Brooklyn, New York to George Taton and Margaret Mary Kelly Taton, he moved to this Area in 1992 from Gorham, Maine. A Veteran of the US Navy, where he served as an Aviation Machinist Mate, 3rd Class, Mr. Taton was also a member of the Shore Patrol He drove a truck for St. Johnsbury Trucking Co. for 14 years and was a Manager at Sanborne Trucking for several years. He also worked for the City of Westbrook in Maine, taking care of all of the baseball fields.

Preceded in death by his parents and sons, David Taton and William Daniel, Mr. Taton is survived by his wife, Bertie Tapley Taton, of Lake Wales; sons, Thomas Taton, of Maine, Jimmy Daniel, of Melbourne, Florida, David Daniel, of Johnson City, Tennessee; daughters, Pam Stoddard, Patricia Swett and Judi Smith, all of Maine; Alane Richardville, of Babson Park, Florida; sister, Edith O'Keefe, of Portland, Maine; Ten grandchildren, Eleven great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.

Visitation will be from 1:00 to 2:00 P.M., Thursday, October 26, 2006, at Oak Ridge Funeral Care, Haines City. Funeral services will follow at 2:00 P.M., with Pastor Ed Howell, Eastside Baptist Church, Haines City, Florida officiating. Final resting place will be at Forest Hill Cemetery in Haines City. Memorial Contributions may be made to: American Cancer Society, 809 S. Florida Avenue, Lakeland, Florida 33801.