First, God.
Alice Denton with her husband of 72 years, Robert E. Denton.
By Connie Cox with Alice Denton
- 2016 Summer Edition-
Alice Denton is, in herself, a story of accomplishment and achievement. Her titles include female business owner, Hospice board member, Woman of the Month, Businesswoman of the Year, Watauga Home Builders lifetime member, National Who’s Who of Executives and Professionals, Sunday School Teacher, mentor to many high school girls. She has started her own business, has had her insurance license for over sixty years, and the list goes on. She is a lesson that hard work and determination do pay off.
A Life of Faith
But this is not a story of mere accolades, it is a story of faith. “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not yet seen.” As a young girl, Alice saw with eyes of faith a future she felt directed to pursue: to become a businesswoman in a man’s world.
Alice has lived her life rooted in faith and has seen God’s hand at work through all the ups and downs and blessings this journey has revealed. Faith is not about flowery words or preaching, it is not in wealth or the lack thereof, it is not in verbiage, it is in the heart. Faith is like a seed planted in the heart, which becomes dependent upon the one who planted it — the Lord. Faith is a story of dependence, of believing that he who began a good work in you is able to complete the work He started. This concept can be understood both spiritually and practically. It is believing that the Lord can give guidance, direction, and answer simple prayers. He can also place vision in a person’s heart. If we acknowledge Him first and ask Him for wisdom, He will faithfully give us that wisdom.
“We have a daily choice to embrace each day anew with grateful hearts to the Lord and to choose joy every day.””
Humble Beginnings
Alice understands seeds. She comes from a simple background. A farm girl from rural eastern North Carolina, where they had everything they needed, except money. Raised in a Christian home, she was taught by example, the value of good character, work ethic, setting, and fulfilling goals. Every farmer has a goal. You plant a seed, it grows a crop, and the harvest provides for himself and others. And this, as a young child, is what Alice learned. Discipline, character, commitment, honesty, and integrity. She made a commitment to follow Christ as a young child, was baptized at age nine, and has trusted the Lord and the power of prayer ever since.
In a family with little finances, she learned to appreciate the small things. At age six her birthday gift was being old enough to make her own bed. At age nine she was given her first doll with hair. She also began to help her father with his bookkeeping.
From this humble beginning, Alice believed God had put certain goals in her heart. She put herself through business school, working hard toward the goal in front of her. “The Lord was involved in every decision, where to go, what to put my hand to, the moves, businesses, work. Everything was bathed in prayer.” Alice found herself dependent upon the Lord to guide her and trusting it was Him who was directing the course of her life, where and when to begin the business she had envisioned as a child.
God First, Each Other Second
Alice believes that in all of these life decisions there is a simple truth: that if she prays, seeking God’s will, He is able to guide her with his peace, and if that peace is disturbed, that is His guiding protection as well.
Alice believes it was the Lord who brought her and her husband of sixty-eight years together. At the age of fourteen, she met Robert, and they knew from that moment that they were meant for each other. They held hands and prayed together, asking God to help them always remain sweethearts. Adopting the motto early on to “Put God first, each other second, and everything else third.” They were married four years later, and have believed this motto throughout all these years, remaining sweethearts for sixty-eight years.
Keeping their love alive is an example to the young couples she has endeavored to mentor. “Commit to God, with His help, to always remain sweethearts, never go to bed angry, kiss each other the last thing of every day. In the morning open your eyes and thank God for another day, and your spouse. Ask God to help you with each day’s journey, there will always be good and bad times, we need God’s help.”
“Commit to God, with His help, to always remain sweethearts, never go to bed angry, kiss each other the last thing of every day.”
Each day begins and ends with prayer. Thanking God and choosing to have a good attitude. “We have a daily choice to embrace each day anew with grateful hearts to the Lord and to choose joy every day. Be happy, enjoy your work, and take time for all things that are important.”
A Man’s World
Alice has done just that, with God’s help, in her home, and as a businesswoman. “Becoming a businesswoman in the sixties was quite an accomplishment. It truly was a man’s world. And it could not have been possible without God’s guidance and direction, without dependence and faith in God.”
At nearly eighty-eight years old, Alice says, “I have a good Lord, a good life. I find my joy in helping others with the opportunities God has blessed me with.” Throughout these years mentoring young women in business and young couples in marriage she still says, “Be smart, work hard, you can do it.”
Life of Service
Alice Denton and husband Robert still live in Boone, now retired, yet continue to serve various nonprofits and in their church fellowship at First Baptist. She lives a life of service to her family, business and the community. They have been blessed with two children, five grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. They remain a blessing to our community.
Obituary
Mrs. Alice M. Denton, age 90, of Boone, passed away Saturday, May 16, 2020, at her home. Born August 30, 1929, in Johnston County, she was a daughter of the late Walter and Lillie Currin Medlin. Alice grew up and began working on the family farm near Zebulon.
After graduating high school at age 16, she entered college and graduated at age 18. Alice's work within the insurance industry began in Raleigh at Chamblee Insurance Agency.
The family moved to Boone in 1963 and Alice immediately got a job as an office manager with Watauga Insurance Agency. After many years of working for others, Alice achieved her dream of owning her own business, and in 1979 Denton Insurance Agency was opened for business.
Alice was active in many community and civic organizations, including the Eastern Star, Bone Business and Professional Organization, and the Boone Lions Club. She served for eleven years as a member of the Hospice of Watauga County Advisory Board. Alice was a member of the High Country Home Builders Association for over 25 years. She was also a long time active member of the First Baptist Church of Boone.
Alice is survived by her husband of 72 years, Robert E. Denton, two children, Robert E. Denton, Jr., and wife Rachel Holloway and one daughter, Alice Elaine Denton, grandchildren; Robert E. Denton, III, and wife Christen, Donald C. Denton and wife Sarah, Joshua A. Minton, Casey N. Minton, and Tiffany M. Minton, and one great-granddaughter, Jazmine N. Cowan.
This article was originally written for the Summer 2016 Edition of The Journey magazine.