Doug is one of three children born to A. Warren and Flora B. Dayton of Western,
New York, where his Dad served for many years as a High School Superintendent and his Mom for many years as the School’s
Librarian. The Dayton family members were known as pillars of the community,
and in the local Methodist church. Doug’s father was a significant figure
in the “Camp in the Woods” youth ministry, where Doug and his siblings spent many happy summers in a wholesome
and conservative program, which promoted a healthy work ethic, athletics, and the value of home, family, church, and community. As Doug and his siblings came
into their teen years, they were recognized as having outstanding leadership ability, and were appointed to leadership positions.
Doug and Martha have been blessed with two fine sons, Jonathan (and his beloved
wife, Pamela), and Warren, as well as four energetic grandchildren, who surely keep the Dayton home filled with joyful activity.
A Lay-Preacher in the Methodist church, Doug, for many years, conducted the
adult Sunday-School class, as well as serving faithfully in other capacities. A
man of sterling integrity and one without guile, Doug’s character is refreshing and exemplary of Christ.
For many years, Doug worked as a home-builder in his own construction firm,
and because of his high quality workmanship, honesty, and uprightness, his skills were in great demand, to the extent that
he never found it necessary to advertise. In recent years, Doug has become increasingly
involved with Habitat for Humanity, serving as the pro-bona construction coordinator for his county.
Martha is one of those rare women, who embodies the highest and noblest of
the graces. A person of deep spirituality and devotion, she is also warm and
caring; and deeply concerned for the needs of others.
She was raised in a professional family in New England, where great emphasis
was placed upon higher learning and character development. As part of her education,
she was chosen among a select few to study at the Sorbonne in Paris, France. This
was to serve her well in later life, when she became an educator and departmental head, for over thirty-five years, in the
New York State School system, where she instructed, mostly in the French and Spanish languages, and also in English.
Martha is a model-mother and grandma, who dearly loves, and is devoted to
her husband, sons, daughter-in-law, and her precious grandchildren. Ever the
“Teacher,” she relishes time spent with the kids. Olivia, at age
seven, has already been taught by Grandma, a significant vocabulary of French and Spanish words and phrases. Those having visited the Dayton home will readily attest to Martha’s high degree of expertise in
all things culinary. In short, she’s a great cook! Along with a keen appreciation for literature, art, and music, Martha is also a worthy artist and has recently
become a maker of art-glass, and free-form glass objet d’art.
Perhaps most significant and not to be omitted, is the manner in which she has raised
her children from an early age, to love Jesus, and to live by His Word and Teachings.
Indeed, Brother Warren, in his profile, has made reference to his Mom having led him to Christ, as a young child. Truly, as the “virtuous woman” of Proverbs 31, Martha is a mother who
looks well to the ways her household…who worketh willingly with her hands, and whose candle goes not out, by night.”
