Dr. John D. Minton, son of the late Ray Shipman and Ruth Cook Shipman, was born on February 16, 1940 in Malden, Missouri and departed this life on February 25, 2019 at the age of 79 years.

Dr. Minton was a hometown dentist serving our community for forty years.  He was known for commitment to excellence, his fairness and his generosity.  He honored and valued all of his patients, and those relationships went beyond the dental chair.  After he learned cranial-sacral therapy, he was able to help many patients improve their quality of life.  

Dr. Minton was more than just a dentist; he was also a talented artist.  He had many artistic interests; he enjoyed watercolor painting, photography, and wood carving.  In addition to his creative pursuits, he walked on the wild side by learning how to sail and how to fly.  After obtaining his Master’s in History his took his passion for history to the classroom by teaching at a local community college.  He was an avid student with wide-ranging interests, and books were his constant companions. Learning brought him great joy, and he shared his extensive knowledge with enthusiasm.  

On June 5, 1966, he was united in marriage to Julia Ann Leverich in Caitlin, Illinoi.  Mrs. Minton preceded him in death on March 18, 2008. He is survived by: two daughters, Tina Bess (Dain) of Dexter, Missouri and Traci Minton, who currently resides in Connecticut; two brothers, Paul Minton of West Virginia and Charles Shipmas of Dexter, Missouri; by three sisters, Jean Silver of Nashville, Tennessee, Meredith Gray of Nashville, Tennessee, and Carol Rainey (Palastine) of Texas; by two granddaughters, Cassidy Paige Bess and Sydney Ann Bess, and many other relatives and friends.  Besides his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by one brother, Roy Minton.

Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Thursday, February 28, 2019 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon.  The funeral service will be conducted at 12:00 noon in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel on February 28, 2019 with Greg Mathis as speaker.  Interment will follow in Chalk Bluff Cemetery.  Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is in charge of all arrangements.

 In lieu of flowers, please make donations to: 18 Fore Life, ℅ Scott Kruse, 705 Laurie Circle, Dexter, Missouri 63841