Eston O'Neal Alton

Neal went to his Heavenly home Wednesday, September 14, 2016 at The Oaks, with his daughter by his side.

He was born on April 15, 1922 to Arthur (Bud) and Tinie Gillespie Alton and grew up in New Holland, Georgia.  Neal attended New Holland School and worked for Pacolet, New Holland Mill until World War II called him to duty. He served 4 years in the Army Air Force. Afterwards, being a skilled mechanic, he worked for Martin Motor Company along with his lifetime friends Ruffin Ladd, Bill Pittman and Joe Lester. Later, he was hired by Bell Volkswagen and sent to Florida for training on VW’s, which was a specialty of his.  He worked for Hall County as a shop foreman for a few years.  After that he and his brother, Chester, opened Alton Brothers Automotive Services.  Following declining health his brother, he returned to Hall County as shop foreman and retired in 1992.  His additional talents as a musician and singer allowed him to be a member of several bands: Homeland Harmony Boys with a local weekly radio show, later formed “Georgia Playboys” with great and talented friends Grady Watson, Humpy Campbell, George Canada, Dendell Bennett, Harrison Chumbler and Jimmy Whitmire. They played for many square dances, policeman’s balls at the Civic building. They also played in Cornelia, Dahlonega, Mount Airy, and Crown Mountain.  He joined Central Baptist Church and began singing with Grady Watson and playing the bass guitar on the 101 Bible Class radio program in the early 1950’s. They traveled to many church singings, along with his sister-in-law Betty Alton as a pianist and vocalist. They were known as the “101 Trio.”  Neal continued to sing and play bass in the church until his 91^st birthday.  He was a talented soloist and bass player, routinely lifting hearts of many nursing home residents for many years. He was jokingly dubbed as Central Baptist’s resident Perry Como, for his mellow crooner voice and his ability to make the bass guitar “talk”.  He was faithful to the 101 Bible Class, singing via radio for 65 years, his church and his God. A man of humble upbringing and means, but he used his God given talents to the fullest.

He was preceded in death by his parents Arthur and Tinie Gillespie; brother Chester (Vernon) Alton; sisters Ruth Alton, Lois Ellis Alton Childs Hunter; nephew Ray Alton; stepson Stanley Gillespie and his first wife Lois Ellis Alton and Ellis family members.

He is survived by his daughter Jan Alton (Gene) Cobb; wife Catherine Ledford Gillespie Alton of Gainesville; stepson Garry Gillespie of Atlanta; granddaughters Tresa Entrekin Martin of Columbia, South Carolina, and Tonya Entrekin of Chapel Hill, North Carolina; great grandson Reed Ellis Martin of Columbia, South Carolina; step-daughter-in-law Dodie Gillespie; step-granddaughter Amy (Steve) Silverstein of Atlanta; great granddaughters Carly and Sidney Silverstein; and sister-in-law Betty Grogan Alton of Key Largo, Florida.

The family will receive friends on Friday September 16, 2016 from 4:00pm-7:00pm at Memorial Park North Riverside Chapel.  A celebration of life service will be held at Central Baptist Church in Gainesville, Georgia on Saturday September 17 at 11:00am.  A private interment will be held. Class members of the 101 Bible Class, both past and present, are invited to sit together at a designated area at the front during the service.

The family requests that donations be made to 101 Bible Class at Central Baptist Church, 785 Main Street Gainesville Georgia 30501, for continuance of radio programs.  Donations can also be made to Walter Waldon Music Scholarship Fund at Truett McConnell College, 100 Alumni Drive Cleveland, Georgia 30528.  Flowers will also be accepted.

A special thank you to Dr. Thomas Murray for his dedicated years of care, and to Elizabeth and the nurses of The Oaks at Limestone.

Online condolences can be made at www.memorialparkfuneralhomes.com.

Memorial Park North Riverside Chapel

989 Riverside Drive Gainesville, Georgia 30501

770.297.6200