Charles Dunton ... former Rochester school principal; at 85

MILTON - Charles Donald "Don" Dunton, 85, of Milton, died on Aug. 21, 2024, at his home following a period of declining health. For 64 years, he was the beloved husband of Bonnie Alice Anita (Katwick) Dunton.

He was born on Aug. 8, 1939, in Portsmouth, son of Charles and Mildred (Williams) Dunton. Don graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1957, attended Boston College and transferred to the University of New Hampshire where he earned his Master's in Education and then his PhD/ABD in Early Childhood Psychology from Boston College.

Don worked in education from the early 1960s until 1976 as an elementary teacher, and as a school principal in several school districts including Somersworth, Rochester, Gonic and Moultonborough, as well as Bennington, Vt. Don changed careers and went into commercial real estate working for NH Business Sales from the mid-1970s to early 1990s. When he left NH Business Sales to venture out on his own, he started his own business Dunton Commercial Properties, LLC. He specialized in the marketing of campgrounds throughout New England and New York for many years, making many friends along the way. He was proudly known as "The Campground King" by all who knew him. Don retired from real estate following his last sale on December 31, 2021.

Don enjoyed antiquing and collecting memorabilia of all different sorts, the King "Collector of Collections." He was also an auctioneer through Dunton Auction Services and enjoyed the excitement of working the crowds until the gavel fell. He was most proud of his charity auctions that he was often asked to run. Don also loved to work the many gardens around the farm, and he was a founding member of the Dickel Club.

Besides his wife, Bonnie, he leaves two sons and a daughter in-law, Erik C. Dunton and his partner Kim Scott of S.C.; Charles Donald "Chad" Dunton II and his wife Gloria Camille (George) of Morehead City, N.C.; a daughter, Jennifer Anne Dunton and her husband Jeffrey Lord, of Milton; six grandchildren, Megan, Maddie, Sabra, Tara, Jena and Kira; 10 great-grandchildren, Ember, Lochlan, Rowan, Eleanor, Margaret, Annalise, Dominic, Paisley, Macie and Stevie; a brother, Ronald Williams Dunton of Scarborough, Maine; a nephew, Terrence "Terry" Fenn and his wife, Carolyn. He was father of the late Christopher K. Dunton and brother of the late Ann Elaine Fenn, who both passed in 2013. Don will also be fondly remembered by Rebecca Dunton of Nashville, TN, who is the mother of four of his grandchildren, and by his wonderful caregivers Sarah Foote, SueAnne Lacerda, and Faith Foster.