Walter Walton Obituary

Walter "Glen" Walton, 90, of Amarillo, TX passed away June 23, 2023.

The family will receive friends for a visitation from 5:00 P.M. – 6:30 P.M., Monday, June 26, 2023, at Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home. Services will be held at 1:00 PM, Tuesday, June 27, 2023, at San Jacinto Church of Christ. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors.

Glen was born August 22, 1932 to Jack and Ava Hamby-Walton in San Augustine, Texas. Glen graduated from San Augustine High School in 1950 and Abilene Christian College in 1954. In July 1954, fresh out of college, his first full time preaching job was for the Church of Christ in Newton, Texas. His first time in the pulpit, he noticed a young girl in the audience and he thought she was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. This young girls mother invited him to their house to feed him because she thought he looked "pitiful". Marilyn baked him homemade chocolate chip cookies and put them in a coffee can for him to take home. He would come back for more chocolate chip cookies and they soon started dating and fell in love. They married on September 15, 1955. They have been married for 67 years.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Ava Walton; a sister, Sarah Francis Walton; brother, Leon Walton; brother, Bobby Jack Walton; and brother, Keith Walton.

Glen is survived by his wife, Marilyn Fowler Walton; son, Joel Walton and wife Stefanie of White Deer, Texas; daughter, Jana Hollingsworth and husband Chad of Amarillo, Texas; son, Jeff Walton of Dallas, Texas; a sister, Judy Stanaland, of Nacogdoches, TX; and five grandchildren, Kalee Madrid and husband Joel of Sanger, Texas, Lacey Cearley and husband Nick of Canyon, Texas, Ava Walton of Palmer, Texas, Wylie Glen Walton of Palmar, Texas, and Amador Arranaga of Albuquerque, New Mexico. He had six great-grandchildren, Adyson Cearley, Hudson Cearley, Aiden Madrid, Cooper Madrid, Milo Madrid, and Brooks Madrid. As well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Glen served several Churches of Christ in his career as a minister including the Church of Christ in Vidor, Texas, Church of Christ in Bay City, Texas, San Jacinto Church of Christ in Amarillo, Texas, North Amarillo Church of Christ, Western Avenue Church of Christ in Liberal, Kansas, Mary Ellen at Harvester Church of Christ in Pampa, Texas, back to North Amarillo Church of Christ, Bell Avenue Church of Christ in Amarillo, and full circle to San Jacinto Church of Christ.

Glen served in many areas outside of his church work including camp director of Black Mesa Bible Camp in Boise City, Oklahoma starting in 1967 until 1989. He was known as the man with the whistle. He said that his whistle was a real symbol of authority and without it he would be nothing. He served on the Board of Directors for High Plains Children's Home. He served with the Downtown Amarillo Lions Club where he worked the McGruff "Take a Bite out of Crime" campaign. He visited all the elementary schools in Amarillo with his McGruff puppet. He taught the New Life Behavior course at the prisons in Amarillo, Tulia and Pampa. Glen became a father figure to many of the inmates and continued relationships with them once they were released from prison. He helped to organize a Sunday afternoon mentor program for the inmates that attended his classes. His family often joked about "dad and his homies" and "dads in prison again". Glen taught a biblical studies class at Palo Duro High School for 2 years.

God blessed Glen Walton with a gentle and kind spirit. People would say that just his presence and the sound of his voice brought them great comfort. Probably the most important part of his career was being a solace in a storm. He could sit down and have a sincere conversation with anyone from any walk of life and make them feel important and valued. He could sit and joke with a hardened criminal as well as someone with a doctorate degree.

Being the child of a preacher, especially like Glen Walton, could be difficult at times. We had to share him at times when we did not want to. Holidays and vacations were interrupted because he made himself available to anyone. We came to accept that was just what God called him to be. We take from him an example of truly being available for people and caring for the hurting. He taught us to accept people where they are. We will forever be honored and proud to be the children of Glen Walton.

Please use this link to view the service: https://www.youtube.com.