Obituary of Milton Dale Leighton

~~Retired Chemical Engineer for Exxon, Florham Park Garden Club Member, Aux Member F.P. Memorial First Aid Squad, Korean War 1st Lt. Signal Corp

    Milton Leighton, 86, of Florham Park NJ, passed away on Saturday Oct. 28, 2017 with family beside him.  Wake is 4p to 7p Tuesday October 31st at Burroughs, Kohr & Dangler in Madison NJ.  A funeral mass will be held at Holy Family Church in Florham Park at 10:30a Wednesday November 1, 2017.

    Milton is survived by his wife of 59 years, Barbara Velbinger Leighton.  He is also survived by his children, Cynthia Leighton of Beaverton, Oregon; Tim Leighton & wife Terry of Ft. Washington MD; Peter Leighton of Florham Park, NJ; Kathy Bridge & husband Steven of Florham Park, NJ.   He is also survived by his grandchildren Daniel Leighton & wife Ashley; Nicholas Leighton; Dale Bridge and Abigail Bridge.  He is also survived by his sister Dian Bonsey of Dover-Foxcroft Maine and predeceased by his sisters Ruth Dauphinee, Carol Budden and Barbara Fairbrother originally of Guilford, Maine.  Milton was cherished by numerous nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.

     Milton was born in Willimantic Maine where he worked on the family farm, cut ice from lakes and attended a one room school house.  He later attended the University of Maine.  He pursued a doctorate in chemical engineering at the University of Delaware.  Milt served as a first Lt. in the Army Signal Corp during the Korean War helping train flight crews in bombing telemetry and photography.  For 44 years Milt worked as a chemical engineer for Exxon Research & Development where he was awarded several patents.  Through his work with Exxon, Milton was able to extensively travel to Germany, England, Italy and other countries and states.

     Milton lived 54 years in Florham Park in the home he built himself.  He was an avid gardener and was a life-long member of the Florham Park Garden Club.  As a member of the club, he spearheaded the development of the Campfield Garden and retaining wall on the corner of Ridgedale Avenue and Columbia Turnpike.  He also helped found the Junior Garden Club.  Milt was a volunteer at the F.P. library, which included creating and donating plant displays.  Milton was a devoted member of the Holy Family Church in Florham Park.  He served as an auxillary member of the F.P. Memorial First Aid Squad.
  

In lieu of flowers, donations in Milt’s memory may be made to the Florham Park Memorial First Aid Squad, 60 Felch Rd, Florham Park, NJ 07932.  Condolences may be posted at www.danglerfuneralhomes.com.