James Edward “Gator” Walton, 66, of Gloucester, passed away on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2017.

He was born in Americus, Georgia. He retired from the U.S. Army at the rank of Sergeant First Class in 1993 after serving 22 years and 11 months. He began his career at Ft. Bragg in the 82nd Airborne. During his service, he spent six years at Ft. McClellan, Alabama, and was an instructor at the chemical school. He also worked with AAFES as a theater projectionist and sales representative.

For the last two years, he was a sales associate at the Gloucester Walmart. In his younger years, he loved to run in road races, and he also loved his music.

He was preceded in death by his son, Jesse Andrew Walton, and his mother, Ruby Burns.

He is survived by his wife, Dorothy J. Walton; children, Jaymz Edward “Gator” Walton II, Sara LeAnn Pechumer, and Stephanye Walton; his siblings, Alice N. Boykin, Lorrene Floyd, Delores Peace, Diane Burns, Curtis Burns, and Tommy Burns; numerous grandchildren; great-grandchildren, and nieces and nephews.

The family received friends at Andrews Funeral Home & Crematory on Wednesday from 6-7 p.m., with a memorial service starting at 7 o’clock.