Our sweet dad, Rex Thomas Walters, aka “Ruke” and “The Chief,” passed away on Aug. 30, 2015, of causes incident to age and Alzheimer’s disease. He was born on Feb. 2, 1926, in Tooele, Utah, to Isaac Samuel and Sarah Jane (Millward) Walters. He grew up on South 100 West and ran around with his “First West Buddies” — Dick Pascoe, Lavar Adams and Clayne Shepherd. He married Alma Jean White on March 16, 1947, and was sealed in the Salt Lake Temple to her on Sept. 17, 1951. He is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, living almost his entire life in the Tooele Fourth Ward. He joined the U.S. Navy right out of high school and went to technical school in Great Lakes, Illinois, and Mare Island, California. He was stationed at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii after the bombing and was there when the war officially ended. He was always very proud of his military service. He worked at Tooele Army Depot his entire career — first as a painter, then as a fireman, and later as the fire chief. He also worked other jobs while working at the depot — he poured cement with Dick Henwood, he worked for Sike Gillette at his Texaco station and he painted houses. He always worked hard and provided well for his wife and their four daughters, Bobbie Lou, Sharon Kay, Laurie Dawn, and Terri Lyn. He was fire chief at the Tooele Army Depot from 1978 to 1981, and chief with the Tooele City Volunteer Fire Department from 1969 to 1970. He loved being a fireman and truly considered them his brothers. He was so proud that his grandson, Matt Burdine, became a Tooele volunteer fireman. He loved to hunt and fish with Chuck Gillespie, “Butch” Porter and “Bump” Dunlavy, who are all waiting for him on the “other side” so they can go catch a big one. At one time he boasted that he knew everybody in Tooele! He has had a long, wonderful life and we are so glad that the time has come that he can join his sweetheart, Alma Jean, in Heaven. She passed away in 1995 and he has missed her every day since then. He is survived by his daughters, all of Tooele: Bobbie Lou Anderson, Sharon Kay Burdine, Laurie Dawn Argyle (David), and Terri Lyn Fuell (Sandy). He also is the proud grandfather to 13 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren and 21 great-great grandchildren. He leaves quite a legacy behind here on earth to continue to make his name honorable. He is survived by his sister, Vivian Groscost; sisters-in-law, Beverly White, Mary Jo White, and Bonna Walters; and brother-in-law, Sterling White. He is preceded in death by his wife, Alma Jean; his parents Isaac and Sarah; his brother, Jack Walters; and his granddaughter, Rachel Fait. A visitation will be held at the Tate Mortuary on Friday, Sept. 4 from 6-8 p.m. The funeral will be at the Tooele Fourth Ward chapel (192 W. 200 South, Tooele) at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 5, with a visitation from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. The family would like to express our sincere thanks to Dr. Carolyn Forbes, Cameron Dortch, P.A. and their staff for their excellent care of Dad for many years. Also, we would like to thank CNS Hospice (especially sweet Sharon) for the care they provided at the end of Dad’s life.
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Rex Thomas Walters
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