In Memoriam: Theodore Augustus "Ted" Felton, 1932-2026

By Alexandria Felton

Theodore Augustus "Ted" Felton peacefully departed this life on July 3, 2026, at the age of 94. Born in Raleigh, Tennessee, to Zavon Felton Sr. and Luvenia Cherry Felton, he lived a life defined by service, leadership, and integrity.

A graduate of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and the University of Michigan, Ted served in the U.S. Air Force before becoming a pioneering industrial hygienist. He broke barriers as the first African American elected to the board of any industrial hygiene professional organization and later became the first African American president of both the American Academy of Industrial Hygiene and the AIHA Northern California Section.

A devoted father, member of Alpha Phi Alpha, jazz enthusiast, and lifelong San Francisco 49ers fan, Ted will be remembered as a class act whose kindness, wisdom, and humor touched all who knew him. He is survived by his children, Jordan and Alexandria, along with beloved nieces, nephews, and extended family.