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In Memory

Bruce Walton - Class of 1959

Wendell Bruce Walton, 69, of Idaho Falls, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2010, at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls.

Bruce was born July 27, 1941, in Afton, Wyo., to Wendell S. and Sarah Duke Walton. When Bruce was 2 years old, he and his family moved to Montpelier, Idaho, where he received his schooling and graduated from Montpelier High School.

After high school, he joined the U.S. Army and served in Vietnam, where he did two tours of duty. He continued to serve for 23 years before he was honorably discharged as a major. He was a specialist in ordinance disposal. While serving, he was called on many times to assist the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Secret Service. While in the service, he attended Washington State University, where he earned his bachelor's degree in mathematics and a master's degree in computer science.

He married Sandra Oehlen, and to this union two sons were born, James Patrick and Michael Joseph. They were later divorced.

Upon retirement from the service, he became an instructor in the computer science department for Washington State University for a number of years. While teaching there, he completed all the courses for his doctorate. He lived in Pullman, Wash., until three years ago, when he moved to Idaho Falls.

In his free time, Bruce enjoyed golfing, fishing, reading, cooking, water rafting, skiing and spending time with his brothers and sons. He was always looking for a new place to catch a king salmon. He fished in Alaska, British Columbia and the Great Lakes. He was a friend to all. He was kind and tender-hearted.

Bruce is survived by his sons, James Walton of Layton, Utah, and Michael (Kathy) Walton of Montgomery, Ala.; his mother, Sarah Walton of Ammon, Idaho; brothers, Gary (Marsha) Walton of Shelley, Idaho, and Paul (Diana) Walton of Murray, Utah; six grandchildren, Daniel Bruce, Anthony William, Tara Lejeune, Amy Lejeune, Amy Walton and Kacey Walton; and one great-grandchild, Cameron Dunlap.

Bruce is preceded in death by his father, Wendell; and a grandson, Brian James Walton.

A funeral is scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 10, 2010 at Hawker Funeral Home, 132 S. Shilling Ave. in Blackfoot.