Elton Rodgers Gupton

Elton Rodgers Gupton April 30, 1937 – July 7, 2020 Elton Rodgers Gupton, 83 of Wilson passed away Tuesday, July 7, 2020 at the Brian Center Health and Rehabilitation in Wilson. He was born April 30, 1937 in Warrenton to the late Elton Earl and Elizabeth Thompson Gupton. After graduating from John Graham High School in 1955, Elton began a long and successful career with Carolina Telephone in Rocky Mount. He was employed with the company for forty-five years, and his work was always a priority to him. Elton thoroughly enjoyed his job and the relationships he had with his co-workers. In 1958, Elton married Juanita Clary and they lived in Rocky Mount until moving to Wilson in 1960. Soon after arriving in Wilson, Elton and Juanita joined New Hope Baptist Church, where Elton began a lifetime of faithful service. He was actively involved in all areas of church work, most notably serving as a deacon for more than fifty years and being honored with Deacon Emeritus status. Elton also taught adult Sunday school classes for fifty years, and he made a lasting impact on the youth of the church while teaching the children’s sermon for more than twenty years. Family, church, and work were the most important aspects of Elton’s life, but he also had an abiding love of sports. He played softball on church league and city league teams for many years, and he always enjoyed watching baseball, football, and basketball games, whether in person or on television. Elton especially appreciated being able to attend many of the games his grandchildren played through the years. Traveling throughout the United States was something that Elton also liked to do a regular basis. He and Juanita along with their friends Durwood and Patsy Vick, took trips of varying durations to different states, always making sure to see the capitol city of each state. Ultimately, they visited forty-nine of the fifty state capitals. Elton was preceded in death by his parents and sisters, Edith Paynter and Evelyn Paynter. Elton is survived by his wife of sixty-two years, Juanita Gupton; daughters, Tammy Miller (Kevin) and Laura Strickland (Cliff); grandchildren, Ryan Miller (Katie), Rhett Miller (fiancée, Krystie Wilson), Elizabeth Simaan (Eli) and Andrew Strickland; great-grandchildren, Sally Miller and Mila Simaan; sisters, Virginia Bolton, Frances Bolton and Margaret Robertson; brother, Louis Gupton (Cathy) and numerous nieces and nephews. The family would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the caregivers of the Brian Center of Wilson. The exceptional personal attention provided to our loved one was appreciated by us all. Elton’s funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Joyner’s Funeral Home, 4100 Raleigh Road Parkway, Wilson. The family will receive friends immediately following the service at Joyner’s. A graveside service will be held at 3 p.m. in Gardner’s Baptist Church Cemetery, 968 Church Hill Road, Macon. The Rev. Steve Stephenson will officiate. Memorials may be directed to New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, General Fund, 5142 NC Hwy 58 N, Wilson, North Carolina 27896. Condolences directed to Joyner’s Funeral Home and Crematory at www.joyners.net.