Joseph H. Layton, Sr

Joseph Haddaway Layton, Sr., 91 of Salem, formerly of Mardela, passed away on Wednesday, September 22, 2010 at the Coastal Hospice at the Lake in Salisbury. He was born at Salem on October 19, 1918, and was a son of the late William Haddaway and Bessie Neal Layton.

Mr. Layton attended Ravenwood School. He was first married to Alison Tooth Layton during World War II. She died in 1994. In March of 1972 he married Iris Bennett Stant Layton who died in 2004. Mr. Layton served in the U.S. Army in WW II and was stationed in England and fought in France, Belgium and Germany and had served under General Bradley in the Third Armored Division of the First Army, and fought during the Battle of the Bulge. While serving in France he was wounded and had received a purple heart. Mr. Layton had worked at a diner in New York for about a year and a half after WW II. He then moved back to Salem where he had been engaged in farming for over 60 years and was the founder of Lazy Day Farms. Some years ago he had received an award for having the most yield farming corn in the state of Maryland. Mr. Layton was a member of Salem United Methodist Church and was also a member of the Hurlock American Legion, Dorchester Co. Farm Bureau, Tidewater Farm Bureau, Honorary Kentucky Colonels and the Westside Historical Society. Mr. Layton enjoyed woodworking, gardening, playing bingo and traveling, and had traveled to all 50 states. He had been in failing health for the past two years when he passed away on Wednesday evening.

Survivors include four daughters Sylvia Bradley of Laurel, DE, Claudia Hudson of Mardela Springs, Carol Robinson and her husband Willis Robinson of Sharptown and Frances Hearthway and her husband Ed Hearthway of Salisbury and one son Joseph H. Layton, Jr. and his wife Laura Layton of Salem, nine grandchildren Leslie Quillin, Tania Reeder, Kim Wheatley, Phillip Robinson, Bradley Hudson, William Layton, Susan Conner, Stan Bradley and Kelli Lewis and 17 great grandchildren. He is also survived by two sisters Clara McKnett of Cambridge, Louise Norris of Cambridge and one brother Ollie Layton of East New Market and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a brother Walter Layton and a sister Hilda Willey.

A funeral service will be held on Monday morning at 11:00 AM at Salem United Methodist Church with the Rev. Mary Ann Farnell officiating. Interment will follow at the Mardela Cemetery. The family will receive friends during the hour preceding the service. Pallbearers will be William Layton, Phil Robinson, Stan Bradley, Bradley Hudson, Nathan Conner, Dave Reeder, Mark Quillin, Jason Lewis and Hank Wheatley. Memorial contributions may be made to Westside Historical Society P.O. Box 194, Mardela Springs, MD 21837 or to the Mardela High School Athletic Dept., 24940 Delmar Rd, Mardela, Springs, MD 21837. Arrangements are being handled by the Thomas Funeral Home, P.A. in Cambridge.