Andy Dalton, 92, of Springfield, Missouri, died peacefully at 7 a.m. on Saturday, October 10, 2026, having argued his last case; He won. He was born March 10, 1934, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri to Edna Rusk and S.P. Dalton and grew up in a family that recognized the importance of public service. Andy’s father served on the Missouri Supreme Court and his uncle, John Dalton, served as Governor of Missouri. Andy earned the rank of Eagle Scout as a boy, a feat that 15 family members have since repeated. He graduated from Washington and Lee University (where he lettered in soccer) and earned his law degree from the University of Missouri. Andy served his country in the United States Air Force in Ankara, Turkey, from 1959 to 1962 as a Judge Advocate General.

On March 24, 1959, he married Sue Ann Maxwell, and for 67 years she remained the one person he never managed to out-argue. Andy practiced law in Springfield for more than three decades at Daniel, Clampett, Lilley, Dalton, Powell and Cunningham, then served from 1996 to 2007 as general counsel for City Utilities of Springfield. He was a 33rd Degree Mason and a faithful member of King's Way United Methodist Church leading many church committees and serving on the Missouri United Methodist Foundation. He believed there was dignity in hard work, which is why, at the age of 80, he franchised six Andy's Frozen Custard stores in central Texas.

Andy had a love of the outdoors. He was an avid hunter, fisherman, and a devoted conservationist. Nothing made him happier than a fishing trip to Canada, a stretch of summer at the family cabin on Table Rock Lake, or a long stay on Marco Island, Florida. Andy served on the Missouri Conservation Commission, appointed by Governor John Ashcroft, and in 1996 the Department of Conservation named it’s new facility outside Springfield the “Andy Dalton Shooting Range.” He also sat on the original board of Johnny Morris’s Bass Pro Shops Wonders of Wildlife Museum.

Andy is survived by his wife, Sue Ann; his son Samuel Poage Dalton (Carol Cook) of Dallas, Texas, and their children Sam Jr., Katie (John Detamore), Loring (Joey Belisle) and William; his son Dr. Thomas Dalton (Kimberly Holiday) of Wilmington, North Carolina, and their children Conner (Sarah Williams), Mackenzie Webber (Jacob Webber) and Miller (Tess Tarses); and his daughter Molly Dollus (Matt Dollus) of Lexington, Kentucky, and their children Abby and Andrew. Papa leaves these nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, Jack and William Dalton, and Bennie Belisle. The family is deeply grateful to the staff of The Lodge at Woodside for the kindness and skill of their care in his final days. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, October 19, 2026, at King's Way United Methodist Church in Springfield. He will be laid to rest in the family plot at Columbia Memorial Park Cemetery in Columbia, Missouri. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial contribution to King’s Way United Methodist Church.