'Gone too soon': West Penn Power lineman remembered for acts of kindness at Madison service
Dozens of West Penn Power utility trucks and ambulances on Thursday lined Main Street outside of Beatty-Rich Funeral Home in Madison to honor 27-year-old Dillon W. Walton, a utility lineman killed Oct. 21 in a crash on nearby Interstate 70.
The overflow crowd of family, friends and co-workers, who parked in nearby yards and streets to be part of a funeral procession and attend Walton’s outdoor funeral service, were not at all surprised by the outpouring of support after Walton’s tragic death. Fellow utility worker Seth Ellison, 28, of Belle Vernon and others pointed out that Walton cared a lot for others and showed it.
Walton died along I-70 in South Huntingdon after a tractor-trailer crashed into three vehicles, including his car, stopped on the eastbound lanes of the highway just before 5:30 p.m. The crash closed the highway for more than six hours. Walton was pronounced dead at the scene.
State police still are investigating.
“Dillon was my lead lineman and I can’t say enough about him,” Ellison said. “He was a fantastic guy. He taught me a lot and was patient with everyone and he’ll certainly be missed.”
Ellison pointed out that Walton was big on showing people he cared for them. Walton, other co-workers and Ellison, had carpooled after work Oct. 21 to attend a funeral viewing for another West Penn Power Co. worker in Jefferson, Allegheny County.
Just before the crash, Ellison said he dropped Walton off at his car at West Penn’s Charleroi service center, where both worked.
“I said, ‘I’ll see you tomorrow, bud,’ as he closed the door,” Ellison recalled, shaking his head. “I can tell you he loved his life, loved his family and he is definitely gone too soon.”
Walton’s death occurred along the same stretch of highway where Rostraver West Newton Ambulance EMT Supervisor Matthew C. Smelser, 43, of Carroll Township, was killed Jan. 5 when he was struck by a tractor trailer while responding to a call.
A spur-of-the-moment gesture by Walton when Smelser was laid to rest Jan. 10 in Monongahela Cemetery stuck with members of Rostraver West Newton Ambulance. Members of that ambulance unit, Allegheny Health Network Ambulance, Fayette Ambulance and Sewickley Ambulance also attended Walton’s service.
“As (Smelser’s) funeral procession passed by that day, Dillon happened to be out repairing a utility line with a crew and he had the entire crew stop their work and place their hardhats over their hearts as we passed. We felt we should be here today to return the act of kindness,” said Michael Stangroom, Rostraver West Newton’s director of operations.
Several EMTs who attended Walton’s service still carry a photograph in their cell phones of Walton and his crew pausing to salute Smelser.
Walton was born May 24, 1993, in Greensburg, son of Jeff C. Walton, of New Stanton, and Sheila A. Albright, of Greensburg.
He was a 2012 graduate of Hempfield Area High School and went to Westmoreland County Community College, where to he received his associate degree. He had worked at West Penn Power for six years and recently became a lead lineman.
He was a member of Downtown United Methodist Church in Madison. Co-workers said he always enjoyed being with his friends and family.
According to his obituary, he enjoyed being outdoors, cutting firewood, riding quads, fishing and hunting at camps in Cameron and Elk counties.
He was preceded in death by maternal grandfather, Wayne H. Bender; and paternal grandmother, Joann M. Walton. He is survived by his parents, one sister, Kelley Walton, of Greensburg; his loving girlfriend of three years, Ciara Sherbondy; maternal grandmother, Connie M. Bender, of Greensburg; paternal grandfather, Carl F. Walton, of Tarrs; and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.
In lieu of flowers, the family wishes donations to be made to the Central Westmoreland Career and Technology Center (Powerline Division), 240 Arona Road, New Stanton, PA 15672.
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