Charles Walton

Charles William Walton, 98, of Kerrville, Texas passed away December 30, 2006 at Parsons House Care Center in Kerrville after a short stay.The son of William and Leonie Stadler Walton was born April 3, 1908 in Carlinville, Illinois and lived there until he graduated from Blackburn College. He then attended the University of Illinois from which he graduated and the University of Michigan where he received a Doctor of Chemistry degree. He was united in marriage to Genevieve M. Zeeb on October 21, 1933 at Ann Arbor, Michigan and she survives him. Also surviving are 3 children, Barbara J. Bruce and husband, William of Lucerne, MO Alan H. Walton and wife Nancy of Saginaw, MI, and Douglas C. Walton and wife Diana of Ketchum, ID five grandchildren, William Bruce, Jr. and wife Cindy of Lucerne, MO, Jeanne Jarrett and husband Brooks of Kirksville, MO, Robert Bruce and wife Kelly of Lucerne, MO, Melissa Walton of Saginaw, MI, and Pamela Moorehead and husband Robert of Grosse Pointe Park, MI, twelve greatgrandchildren and six greatgreatgrandchildren. Following his marriage, he went to work for Goodyear Tire Rubber Co. in Akron, Ohio as a Chemist and helped develop synthetic rubber to replace natural rubber. In 1947 he went to work for 3M Company in St. Paul, MN as head of their New Products Division, and later became Vice President of Corporate Research Development. In 1962, he was named to the Board of Directors of the 3M Company. After retiring, he and his wife moved to Sugar Loaf Key, FL for the winter months and Dillon, MT for the summers. Later they sold their house in Florida and bought a home in Kerrville, TX. They spent their winters there until recently when they were unable to return to Dillon because of health problems. He attended the First Presbyterian Church in Dillon, MT and the First Christian Church in Kerrville, TX. His church and his belief in God were a very important part of his life. He enjoyed attending church whenever possible and also the many friends he made through his church. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing, especially fly fishing, and spent a great deal of time pursuing these hobbies in many areas of the United States as well as several foreign countries. He held the world record for a permit caught on a fly and has the fish mounted in his home.The love of his life was always his wife of 73 years and he will be sadly missed by her, his family, and the friends he has made throughout his long life.Memorial services will be held at a later date in Carlinville, IL with burial in the Carlinville Cemetery.

---