Leland Gilton

Leland R. Gilton, age 71, of Sparkman, died Tuesday, May 3rd, 2011 in Little Rock. He was born April 13, 1940 in Wilson AR., the son of William and Twilla Davis Gilton. He was a member and Elder of Sparkman 1st Baptist Church, served as an alderman for the city of Sparkman.

Leland was retired from the United States Marine Corp, and he was a highly decorated veteran of three tours of duty in Vietnam. After his military career, he retired from Lockheed-Martin Corp.

He was preceeded in death by his father, William Gilton and two wives, Betty M. Daniells Gilton, and Beverly O'Bryant Gilton.

Survivors include his wife, Leola Launius Gilton; two sons, Dr. Terry L. Gilton and wife, Kathleen Johnson Gilton of Boise Idaho, The Rev. Michael R. Gilton and wife Kathleen Powers Gilton of Prosper, Texas; mother, Twilla Davis Gilton,; one sister, Linda Green and husband Virgil Green, all of Benton Arkansas; three grandsons, Thomas, Davis, and Carter Gilton; two step-daughters, Kelli Kuhn of Greenwood, Arkansas, and Heather Fox of Memphis, Tennessee, three step-grandchildren, Ashley and Allen Hoyt, and Sophie Fox.

Funeral services will be 2:00 P.M. Friday, May 6th at Sparkman 1st Baptist Church with Rev. Eric Moffett officiating. Burial with military honors will be in Sparkman Cemetery. Visitation will be 6-8 P.M. Thursday at Ruggles- Wilcox Funeral Home in Arkadelphia. Pallbearers will be Jeremy Givens, Bill Daniell, Percy Goza, Erwin Seale, Donny White, and Jathan Seale. Honorary pallbearers will be Murphy Manning, Don White, and Doyle Sharp. Memorials may be made to Sparkman 1st Baptist Church.