Caraletta Sue Orton

Published 10:40 am Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Sue Orton, 74, of Keysville, VA, died peacefully in her sleep on March 5, 2017 surrounded by her family.  Born August 23, 1942 in Portsmouth, VA, she is predeceased by her parents, Douglas G. and Edna (Mann) Fink and older sister, Frances Gillikin.

An avid lover of music, Sue was an accomplished cellist and pianist. She graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Portsmouth, VA in 1960 and later attended the St. Louis School of Music. Sue provided piano accompaniment to the Richmond Symphony on multiple occasions and taught piano lessons professionally for 20 years while living in Chesapeake, VA. In 1984, she and her family moved to Keysville, VA where Sue and her husband opened and successfully ran two redi-mix concrete plants — Central Redi-Mix Concrete in Meherrin, VA and Nottoway Redi-Mix Concrete in Blackstone, VA. Sue was a superb cook, gracious host, talented pianist, savvy business owner, avid gardener and loving wife and Mother.

Sue is survived by her husband of over 56 years, David C. Orton of Keysville, VA; and son, William D. (Anna Ball M.) Orton of Fredericksburg, VA; and two daughters, Madonna (Robert W.) Bossa of Chesapeake, VA and Jessica (Scott D.) Hamilton of Smithfield, VA; and two grandsons, William S. Hamilton & Jonathan D. Hamilton; and two sisters, Charlotte James of Richmond, VA and Ruthie (Rodney) Bernardson of Abingdon, VA, as well as her and beloved pets, Zippy and Blue Bell. 

The family wishes to extend their gratitude to Hospice of Virginia in Farmville, VA for their support in her final days.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Charlotte County Volunteer Rescue Squad at http://charlotterescue.org/donate.html.