Alton served 2 years in the Navy during WWII, and had an assignment running a carpentry crew of Japanese prisoners of war. He became a journeyman machinist, but his main love was farming. Alton bought his farm in 1954 and grew many crops before planting his first cherry orchard, which became “Columbia River Cherries.” After 50 years, Alton retired and leased the property to J&S Orchards.