Reverend George L. Bolton 85 years, formerly of Brockton and North Easton died June 22, 2016 in Rifle, CO. Born in Pittsburgh, PA he was the son of the late George M. and Clara (Laird) Bolton.
He moved with his parents in the mid-thirties to Windsor, Ontario, Canada and then in 1942 to Grosse Pointe, MI. He graduated from Grosse Pointe HS in 1949. He attended Michigan State University from 1950 through 1953 playing hockey from 1951-1953 and 1955-1956. He enlisted in the US Army in 1953 serving in Korea and Japan until 1955. After completing his service, he returned to MSU and graduated in 1956. He married Sharon Lynn Davis in 1958 and lived in Detroit, MI. He worked for Byrne Doors, Inc., an engineering firm in Ferndale, MI 1958-1962. He and his wife had three children, Diane, Susan and Michael. In 1962 the family moved to Newtonville, MA where George attended Andover Newton Theological School receiving a Master’s of Divinity Degree. In 1963 he became pastor at Pondville Baptist Church in Cedarville, MA. Their son James was born in 1965 in Newton, MA. Rev. Bolton graduated from seminary and was ordained in 1966. He was pastor of the Union Evangelical Church in Three Rivers, MA 1965-1969. The family moved to Lewisburg, PA in 1969 where he became chaplain at the Federal Penitentiary in Lewisburg. The family moved to Auburndale, MA in 1972 when George became chaplain at the Paul A. Dever State School where he served for 30 years. He returned to the Pondville Baptist Church serving as pastor from 1973-1976. In 1976 he became a chaplain at the Brockton VA Medical Center. He received his Doctor of Ministry degree from Andover Newton Theological School in 1977. He retired from the VA Medical Center in 1994 and then began work as chaplain at the Wrentham Developmental Center in Wrentham, MA. He served 20 years at the Wrentham Developmental Center. In 1977 George joined South Congregational Church which later become Christ Congregational Church and was a member there for 39 years. He was a resident of Brockton 1973-1995, Walker Center for Global Mission, Auburndale, MA 1995-2001, N. Easton, MA 2001-2007, on Cape Cod from 2007-2014 and most recently in Rifle, CO.
He enjoyed family, visiting friends and relatives, church, his work with people with disabilities, visiting Canada, running in and attending the Boston marathon and playing sports. He was an avid fan of all of the Boston sports teams.
He is survived by his four children; Diane Lynn Bolton of Gainesville, FL, Susan Kay McElroy and her husband Scott of Delray Beach, FL, Michael Laird Bolton of Scottsdale, AZ and James McLeod Bolton and his wife Denise of Eagle, CO, six grandchildren; Zachary and William McElroy, Devon McLeod Bolton-Rice, Nicholas Bolton, Samuel James Bolton and Katherine Grace Bolton and his longtime and dearest friend of over 35 years, Josephine Vitale of Medway, MA.
Visiting hours will be held in the Conley Funeral Home, 138 Belmont St. (Rte 123), Brockton, on Tuesday, July 5, 4-7pm. A Funeral service will be held at Christ Congregational Church 1350 Pleasant St. Brockton Wednesday at 10:30am. Burial in the Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne.