Barksdale "Dale" Fowler Halton
March 21, 2023
Charlotte - Barksdale Fowler Halton, 85, of Charlotte died March 21, 2023 at her home.
Charlotte has lost its quintessential Fairy Godmother. Barksdale Fowler Halton, born in Charlotte on August 20, 1937, has been the magic in the lives of countless people all over the world. For so many people, Dale bought houses, cars, paid medical and dental bills, hired family law attorneys, smoothed the way into schools with a well-placed phone call, paid multiple tuitions to just about every school in Charlotte. She supported little tiny charities for decades, saved the lives of hundreds of thousands of mothers and babies in Afghanistan and Uganda, and built entire campuses.
While her impact was worldwide, Dale felt strongly that you give where you live. Look one layer down in this town and you will find her handprints. The remarkable thing about all this was her quietness and lack of pretense. She didn’t want any attention for these acts of kindness. She gave with a complete lack of cynicism, she believed everyone is good and trustworthy. When sometimes that proved not to be true, she did not let that disappointment change her outlook. She just kept on doing good.
She did a lot of big things, but the real story is the relationships she formed. She did all these things for people, not ideas. Every time her name was on something it was because someone wanted to put her name on it. She did everything she could to honor others when naming her big projects.
She had the money, the connections and compassion to do all this. She gave away over half of her income every year. She lived in the same condominium for 34 years. She didn’t want to build a castle. She wanted to educate and serve.
There are several resources to learn about her life story. There is a library at UNC Charlotte, showing the history of her family and Pepsi Cola. The UNC Charlotte Hall of Fame spotlight article is a good one. https://charlotte49ers.com/news/2022/9/7/hall-of-fame-hall-of-fame-spotlight-dale-f-halton.aspx
Business North Carolina ran a terrific article, https://businessnc.com/pillars-of-nc-dale-halton-the-charlotte-trailblazer-put-the-fizz-back-in-her-family-business/
The WTVI story about her is excellent, please watch it. https://video.wtvi.org/video/dale-halton-ng56qd/
She is survived by her husband, Fred Wagner, a really big family, including innumerable good friends.
At 2:00 PM on Saturday, April 1, 2023 a Funeral and Celebration of Life will be held at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church at 115 W. 7th Street, Charlotte, NC 28202. A reception will follow at St. Peter’s. Dale planned the service and the reception, right down to the food that will be served. The service will also be live streamed at https://st-peters.org/funeral.
On Thursday. March 30, 2023 from 6:00 – 8:00 PM, there will be a UNC Charlotte Gathering for Family and Friends at the James H. Barnhardt Student Activity Center/Dale F. Halton Arena, 3rd Floor, SAC Salon. In her honor, guests are encouraged to wear their favorite 49ers apparel and/or colors. Parking will be available at the adjacent West Deck at no cost. GPS address: 9290 Barnhardt Lane, Charlotte, NC 28262.
In lieu of flowers, please make a gift in Dale’s honor to:
Aspire Carolinas Foundation www.aspirecarolinas.org or
International Midwife Assistance www.midwifeassist.org
Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth W. Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, NC; 28204 (704) 641-7606. Online condolences can be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.
Comments
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My deepest condolences to the Halton family. I remember all the thoughtful things that she did for her employees at Pepsi, and the lives she touched in between. She was a very special lady.
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We always had a nice time together!
True friend❤️ -
We lost one of Charlotte's greatest leaders. She led quietly by lifting up others so that they could lead. She put her trust on the line for growing many schools, programs and persons in ways others never even consider. Her love for her town and her friends will stand in our memory for ever, and even more importantly, continue to inspire acts of charity.
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What a great lady! A huge heart but a micro ego.
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Not very big, In stature or weight
But the void she leaves is so very great. -
Dale and I were friends for 50 years. We were both Agnes Scotties, and we bonded over raising children, commiserated with each other over our failed first marriages, and supported each other as women learning how to succeed in roles formerly held only by men. My daughter wore her daughters’ hand-me-downs. Dale and I would meet at our favorite restaurant for lunch and even after a hiatus of months or even years, we’d pick up the conversation as though it had been just yesterday. We enjoyed the friendly rivalry of Davidson - Charlotte basketball, and the intimacy of dinners at our place or at the Pent House. I rejoiced when she married Fred and she rejoiced when Jerry and I found each other. Charlotte lost a great and generous friend today, and so did I. Goodbye sweet friend, and may flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.
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The biggest mistake I made my freshman year at UNC Charlotte was addressing a poster tube to Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co. that contained the 1979-90 Charlotte 49ers Men's Basketball Posters to Mr. Dale Halton. Oh, and the posters were sponsored by Coca-Cola. Double oops. Lesson learned. It was awesome meeting her, being "scolded" by her and then becoming her friend for a great deal of the rest of her life. My wife Susan and I even traveled to visit her and Fred in Colorado where we learned of their engagement. I regret we were not as close the past 5 years, but she filled my life as a 49ers fan and staff member with immeasurable happiness. Thank you, Dale. Fred, thank you for the care you provided her.
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She was a special person loved by many.
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For Fred and the entire family:
We rejoice with you in Dale’s homecoming;
We shed tears of sorrow with you for your loss;
We lift you up in our heart for peace and comfort;
And we pray that each day will be better and better. -
Dale was a great lady and did so much for the community I will always think about her and my father Phillip E Halton
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