JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Alton Redford Steele, 84, of Jacksonville, Fla. died Tuesday, June 15, 2010 at the home of his daughter, Patricia.

He was born on Feb. 24, 1926 to the late Brady and Nanie Steele of Oak Grove, Fla. As a child he moved to Walnut Hill, Fla. where he went to high school. He then entered WWII and became a purser in the Merchant Marines. At the end of his duty, he returned to Walnut Hill, Fla. and started work at St. Regis Paper Mill in Cantonment, Fla.

Over a span of more than 30 years, his employment at St. Regis took him to Atlanta and then to Jacksonville, Fla. serving as regional sales manager for the Southeast Division of Kraft Paper. He returned to St. Augustine, Fla. for many years, pursuing various ventures and traveling extensively. He loved fishing and sailing, belonged to the St. Augustine Yacht Club and enjoyed spending time on the beach. At the age of 80, he moved back to Jacksonville, Fla. and lived with his daughter and son-in-law until his death.

He is survived by three children, Andy Steele (Susie) of Cody, Wyo., Patricia Aikenhead (Neil) of Jacksonville, Fla. and Susan (Doug) Darby of China Grove, N.C.; his sister, Betty Ward (Jack) of Atmore; his brother, Ronald Steele (Eileen) of Oklahoma; seven grandchildren, nine great grandchildren and several nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews and cousins.

Services will be held at 10 a.m. today, June 19, 2010 from Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Mike Grindle officiating. Interment will follow in Oak Grove Cemetery.

Family received friends from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. Friday, June 18, 2010 at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.

Pallbearers will be Neil Aikenhead, Doug Darby, Brady Steele, Alex Darby, Drew Steele and Jason Ward. Honorary pallbearers will be Jack Ward, Billy Ward, James Eaters and Kenneth Holcomb.

Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home, Inc. will be in charge of all arrangements.