Lawrence Korns Dayton, 91, of Grinnell, passed away Wednesday, May 3, 2023, surrounded by family.

A graveside service with military honors by the United States Air Force will be held at 2:00 pm on Sunday, May 28, 2023 at Ivy Hill Cemetery in Malcom, Iowa, followed by a Celebration of Life at 3:00 pm at the Malcom Auditorium, 212 Main Street in Malcom.

Memories and condolences may be shared with his family on the Smith Funeral Home and Crematory website at www.smithfh.com.

Lawrence was born January 31, 1932, in Brooklyn, Iowa, to Bernice Force Dayton and Raymond K Dayton. He married Edith Arlene Osmond April 28, 1957.

Lawrence was a life-long learner and he taught his children the value of hard work and saving for a rainy day. He started school at the age of four and graduated from Malcom High School in 1949, then attended the University of Iowa before being drafted into the Air Force in 1953. He trained as a cadet in Texas eventually serving as a 1st Lieutenant aviation navigator in Korea and Japan before ending his service in 1960 with the Armed Forces Reserves. In 1959 he bought the local meat locker which he and Edith, along with their children and grandchildren, grew into the award-winning Dayton Meat Products. Lawrence retired in 2000 but never slowed down. He filled his days gardening, mowing, golfing, playing cards and bingo, and dancing. He and Edith spent many years traveling in their RV and hosting family gatherings.

His family includes his wife of 66 years, Edith; five children, Bill (Anna) Dayton of Brooklyn, David (Kathy) Dayton of Brooklyn, Patty (Mark) Lang of Brooklyn, Annette (Laura) Dayton-Yaeger of St Petersburg, FL, Nancy (Michelle) Mackie of Clive; twelve grandchildren; and fourteen great-grandchildren. Lawrence was preceded in death by his parents; siblings, Marvin Dayton, Lucille Inis, Wayne Dayton and Gene Dayton.