William J. “Bill” Dayton, Sr, 94, of Freehold Township passed away on Monday, February 23, 2026, at his residence. He was born and raised in Jersey City and had lived in Scranton, PA and Old Bridge before settling in Freehold seven years ago. Bill worked as a Terminal Train Master at Conrail for over 40 years. A proud Navy Veteran, he was a member of the New Jersey Veterans Association and the Central Railroad of New Jersey. Bill enjoyed visiting casinos and frequenting the Monmouth Racetrack. Additionally, he had a great love for sports and country music he cherished traveling to Nashville to attend the Fan Fair Festival with his wife, Ann.

Bill was predeceased by his wife, Ann Dayton. He is survived by his three children, Carol Seifer and her husband, Ross of Ocean City, William J. Dayton, Jr and his wife, Patti of Jackson and AnnMarie Belli and her husband, Gene of Millstone; His dear friend whom he always treated as his daughter, Sally Goeb and her husband, Bob of New Egypt; nine grandchildren, Kevin, Sean and his wife, Kate, Heather and her fiancé, Greg, Adam and his husband, Dan, Devon and her husband, Jeffrey, Samantha and her husband, Todd, Taryn and her husband, Rahul, Stephanie and Kirsten and her husband, Brian; Eleven great grandchildren, Maximus, Danya, Ryleigh, Maya, Payton, Austin, Aubrey, Saanvi, Yeva, Sydney and Madison.

Visitation will be held at the Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home, 100 Elton-Adelphia Road (Route 524), Freehold Township on Wednesday, March 4, 2026 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM. Relatives and friends are invited to attend his 10:30 AM Funeral Mass on Thursday, March 5, 2026 at the Co-Cathedral of St. Robert Bellarmine, 61 Georgia Road, Freehold Township. Entombment will follow in Ocean County Memorial Park, Silverton Road, Toms River.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, Park 80 West, Plaza II, 250 Pehle Avenue, Suite 202, Saddle Brook, NJ 07663. For information, directions, or to leave condolence messages to the family, please visit www.claytonfuneralhome.com