On Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018, Christopher Andrade Denton, loving husband and father of three children, passed away at the age of 46.
Chris was born on Feb. 11, 1972, in Newport News, to James and Cynthia Smith Denton. He graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in agriculture in 1993, and then began his nearly 25-year career in the lawn treatment business. On Sept. 4, 1999, he married Martha Kelly Lawrence. Together they raised their three children, Taylor Grace Denton (23), Joshua Alexander Wilson (23), and Larkin Christopher Denton (14).
In 2001, Chris and Kelly planted the seeds for their own business, Organic Green Lawn Care, Inc. With Chris’s passion for agricultural science and dedication to his customers, combined with Kelly’s business sense and organizational skills, Organic Green quickly took off. Committed to customized service as well as being environmentally responsible to their beloved Chesapeake Bay, the Dentons grew their business from 20 customers to more than 950. As Chris reflected, “We picked our dream and made it work on our own terms, and I’m proud of that.”
Chris had a passion for family and friends, and spent as much time as he could with them. Whether it was on the boat, at the beach, or simply hanging out on the deck, he would light up any gathering with his sense of humor and love for life. When not at work, you could find him golfing, fishing or snuggled up with his dog, Olive. In his time spent away from Mathews, Chris loved relaxing in Key West with his wife, kids and mother-in-law. This year, Chris was able to fulfill his dream of retiring to “The Conch Republic.”
Chris was a fun-loving, compassionate man, devoted to his family and friends, and will be greatly missed.
Chris was preceded in death by his mother, Cynthia Smith Sears.
He is survived by his wife, Kelly; their children, Taylor, Joshua, and Larkin; father, James Denton; stepfather, Kenneth Maples; brothers, Matthew Maples (wife Jessica, daughter Wren) and Tyler Maples; mother-in-law, Frances Larkin; father-in-law, Lewis Lawrence Jr., and mother-in-law, Mary Lawrence; brother-in-law, Lewis Lawrence III (wife Lisa, children Jillian and “Newie”), and many extended family and dear friends.
A service will be held on Monday, Aug. 27, 2018, at 2 p.m. at Ware Episcopal Church in Gloucester.
Instead of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions in Chris’s name to Chesapeake Academy, P.O. Box 8, Irvington, Va. 22480.