Funeral services for Mr. Thomas "Richard" Walton will take place on Sunday, May 1, 2011 at 2pm at the chapel of George Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 211 Park Ave. SW Aiken with Rev. Keith Ussery officiating. Interment will follow at Aiken Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 12pm until the time of the service. Memorial donations may be directed to the Aiken County SPCA or to Crohn's Disease research. Mr. Walton, 58, died Wednesday, April 27, 2011 at his residence. A son of the late Thomas P. Walton and Eloise Coleman Walton, he was born in Newberry, SC and had lived in Clarendon County before moving to Aiken in 1988. Richard served as the Tax Assessor for Clarendon County from 1979-1988 and at the time, was recognized as the youngest assessor in the State of SC. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his sister, Tammy Davick.He is survived by his wife of thirty three years, Mary E. "Betsy" Mullens Walton, Aiken; sister-in-law, Janice L. Williams; father-in-law, Jack Mullens; a special uncle, Bradford Mary Coleman, Saluda; a nephew, Morgan Stringfield, Aiken; two nieces, Sherrie Harrelson, Aiken and Jessica Williams, Aiken. He is also survived by several aunts, uncles great nieces and great nephews.