Marion Acton

November 12, 2016 at 6:16 a.m.

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Marion Ray Acton, 87, of Grace Village Retirement Community, Winona Lake, entered the Kingdom at 4:53 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016.
He was born April 15, 1929, in Muncie, to William John Acton and Dora Dean Huey Acton. He was married Aug. 7, 1948 and celebrated 68 years of marriage with Carmen Darlene Hays Acton, who survives in Winona Lake.
He was greatly blessed to have heard the Good News that the Lord Jesus Christ died for his sins at the age of 26 and he is now in His presence!
He served in the U.S. Army (Airborne) from 1946 to 1947 and graduated from Muncie Central High School in 1948 and Ball State Teachers College in 1954. He also received a master’s degree in 1961.
He spent his lifetime as an educator. He was a teacher and administrator for 40 years at LaFontaine Public Schools, Marion City Schools, Tippecanoe Valley and Wawasee Community Schools. After retiring, he served for 12 years on the Wawasee Board of Education.
He officiated football and basketball at both the high school and college level. He had the privilege of working four state final basketball games held at Hinkle Fieldhouse, Assembly Hall at Indiana University and Market Square Arena. He also was an official basketball observer for the IHSAA. He started two different officials associations: Mississinewa and Northern Indiana. He was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009 and received the Center Circle Officials Recognition Award. He was a member of Calvary Baptist Church, Leesburg.   
Along with his wife, he will be lovingly remembered by three sons: Daniel Ray (wife Luanne) Acton. Morton, Ill.; Donald Ray (wife Joanie) Acton, Asheville, N.C.; and Del Ray (LouAnn) Acton, Milford; a daughter, Denise D. Perry, Ligonier; 18 grandchildren: Rachel (husband John) Gruet; Caleb Acton; Matthew Acton; Neile (wife Dylan) Cunningham; Gunnar Acton; McKenzie Acton; Mindy (husband Warren) Harris; Jared (wife Sarah) Smith; Jason Fisher; Melissa (husband D.J.) Caballero; Cody (wife Melissa) Perry; Jeffery (wife Jennie) Acton; Michelle (husband Philip) McGuire; Nathan (wife Alissa) Acton; Moriah Acton; Josiah Acton; Lydia Acton; and Sophia Acton; and 13 great-grandchildren.
Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister: Gretchen P. Acton Jett; three brothers: Francis Keith, William J. and Herbert G.; and a grandson, Luke Acton.
A private graveside service will be held Monday at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Milford and officiated by Chaplain Bryan Benjamin.  
A memorial visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at the Grace Village Fellowship Café (front entrance), Winona Lake.
Arrangements were entrusted to Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw.
*****
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Grace Village Retirement Community, 337 Grace Village Drive, Winona Lake, IN 46590 and in memo line please write in to go toward the “Caring Friends Endowment”.

Marion Ray Acton, 87, of Grace Village Retirement Community, Winona Lake, entered the Kingdom at 4:53 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016.
He was born April 15, 1929, in Muncie, to William John Acton and Dora Dean Huey Acton. He was married Aug. 7, 1948 and celebrated 68 years of marriage with Carmen Darlene Hays Acton, who survives in Winona Lake.
He was greatly blessed to have heard the Good News that the Lord Jesus Christ died for his sins at the age of 26 and he is now in His presence!
He served in the U.S. Army (Airborne) from 1946 to 1947 and graduated from Muncie Central High School in 1948 and Ball State Teachers College in 1954. He also received a master’s degree in 1961.
He spent his lifetime as an educator. He was a teacher and administrator for 40 years at LaFontaine Public Schools, Marion City Schools, Tippecanoe Valley and Wawasee Community Schools. After retiring, he served for 12 years on the Wawasee Board of Education.
He officiated football and basketball at both the high school and college level. He had the privilege of working four state final basketball games held at Hinkle Fieldhouse, Assembly Hall at Indiana University and Market Square Arena. He also was an official basketball observer for the IHSAA. He started two different officials associations: Mississinewa and Northern Indiana. He was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009 and received the Center Circle Officials Recognition Award. He was a member of Calvary Baptist Church, Leesburg.   
Along with his wife, he will be lovingly remembered by three sons: Daniel Ray (wife Luanne) Acton. Morton, Ill.; Donald Ray (wife Joanie) Acton, Asheville, N.C.; and Del Ray (LouAnn) Acton, Milford; a daughter, Denise D. Perry, Ligonier; 18 grandchildren: Rachel (husband John) Gruet; Caleb Acton; Matthew Acton; Neile (wife Dylan) Cunningham; Gunnar Acton; McKenzie Acton; Mindy (husband Warren) Harris; Jared (wife Sarah) Smith; Jason Fisher; Melissa (husband D.J.) Caballero; Cody (wife Melissa) Perry; Jeffery (wife Jennie) Acton; Michelle (husband Philip) McGuire; Nathan (wife Alissa) Acton; Moriah Acton; Josiah Acton; Lydia Acton; and Sophia Acton; and 13 great-grandchildren.
Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister: Gretchen P. Acton Jett; three brothers: Francis Keith, William J. and Herbert G.; and a grandson, Luke Acton.
A private graveside service will be held Monday at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Milford and officiated by Chaplain Bryan Benjamin.  
A memorial visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at the Grace Village Fellowship Café (front entrance), Winona Lake.
Arrangements were entrusted to Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw.
*****
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Grace Village Retirement Community, 337 Grace Village Drive, Winona Lake, IN 46590 and in memo line please write in to go toward the “Caring Friends Endowment”.
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