A Friend of the Farm

Polly Ellis

CARDINAL CLAN: Lorton, pictured with sons Bill, Jack, Bob and Paul Jr., was a devout member of the alumni community.

Paul Vernon Lorton Sr., '31, always appreciated his college education, even though graduating during the Depression meant a long line of low-paying jobs—from digging ditches to counting cars on El Camino—before he secured something solid. Through his life, he showed that appreciation: he was president of the Fresno Stanford Club, a member of the Alumni Association's Executive Board and, at 88, became the Class of 1931 correspondent for Stanford magazine.

Lorton, editor of the Chapparal, member of the men's soccer team, and lifelong Stanford volunteer, died January 28. He was 98. The Bay Area native eventually was hired by the Lawrence Warehouse Company, where he spent 32 years, as manager of the San Joaquin division in Fresno, Calif., and as executive vice president. Later, he became vice president and trust officer of Bank of America. After retiring at 65, he gained a reputation as an expert in the field of charitable deferred giving as a fund-raiser for the Children's Hospital in Oakland, the Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco and the Mills-Peninsula Hospital Foundation in San Mateo, where he was on the board of directors. For Stanford, he chaired his 50th and 60th reunion committees, was a volunteer fund-raiser and served on the athletic board. He was president and board member of the Buck Club (now the Buck/Cardinal club). A member of the Stanford Associates, Lorton received their Outstanding Achievement Award in 1999.

Lorton is survived by his wife, Ruth; four sons, Bob Baratta-Lorton, '61, Paul Jr., PhD '73, Jack, '62, and Bill, '64; two stepsons, Scott, MBA '72, and Stephen Edwards; three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Four brothers, including Eugene, '38, and Norris, '38, predeceased him.