Walter E. "Walt" Sutton Sr.

Walter E. "Walt" Sutton Sr. obituary

Walter Sutton Obituary

E. SUTTON, SR.
April 9, 1925 ~ January 15, 2011

Walter E. Sutton, Sr. was born two months prematurely, in Glendive, Montana on April 9, 1925. He was the 2nd of 7 children born to Earnest and Hazel Sutton. He passed away at his home in Amboy, WA on January 15, 2011. His family moved from desolate eastern Montana to the "promised land" of western Washington in 1936. He attended Green Mountain School and Woodland High School.
Walt enlisted in the Navy in 1943, serving his country as a member of the Armed Guard from the Aleutian Islands to the Philippines and points in between.
After being discharged in 1946 he returned home to Amboy. He met a pretty little gal from Woodland named Helen Hannah and they were married in 1947.
Walt invested $2000 in a flat bed truck and started hauling railroad ties. With hard work he was able to trade up and in 1951 bought a Mack log truck. With brother-in-law Norm Wilson, he started Wilson & Sutton Logging Company. The early years were tough, but they built a successful business, logging for several large mills and building Forest Service roads. They earned a reputation for being fair and honest employers and businessmen. In 1986 they sold all their equipment and retired.
Walt earned his pilot's license in 1953. When business got better he and Helen built a new home near Amboy where he could have a private airstrip. He flew far and wide, from Acapulco to Anchorage, and as far east as Louisiana. They bought a second house in Long Beach in 1963 and took his boat The Timber Queen out of Illwaco for many summers of salmon and tuna fishing. To satisfy his urge to see more, he captained his boat to Alaska for summer halibut fishing. Walt and Helen also took trips to Ireland, Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Retirement winters were spent RVing in Mexico.
Besides fishing and flying, Walt was an avid hunter, enjoyed clam digging, snowmobiling, and serving his community. He was a member of Twin Falls Lodge #180 F & AM, Al Kader Shrine, North Clark Lions Club, the American Legion, Columbia River Yacht Club and Kalama Yacht Club. While serving as Master of Twin Falls Lodge, the Yacolt Masonic building was dedicated. That building is now Yacolt City Hall. He took an active part in Shrine Clubs - the Flying and Yachting Nobles and the Flag Patrol. Over the years he cooked hundreds of eggs at the Lions Club Mother's Day Breakfast. On Memorial Day he placed flags on veterans' graves.
Walt is survived by his beloved wife of 63 years, Helen; brother, David Sutton; sisters and their spouses, Kay and Roy Munsell and Marie and Kenny Downing; sister-in-law, Velda Sutton; and brother-in-law, Norm Wilson; his children, Tom and April Reichstein, Walt Sutton Jr., Tom and Cindy Sutton, and Lynda Sutton; grandchildren, Tony and Valerie Reichstein, Andy Reichstein, Tim and Kristin Reichstein, Heidi and Cris Armbruster, Dr. Louis and Tami Sutton, Sam and Andrea Sutton, Mike Sutton, Hannah Sutton Hafner, and Travis Sutton Hafner; great-grandkids, Stacy and Sterling Sutton, and Blake and Ava Reichstein; also Helen's extended family including her sisters and their families, Elva Dobbins, Iris Jensen, and Frances and Gene Tangen; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Earnest and Hazel; his brothers, Earnest Sutton, Jr. and Keven Sutton; his sister, Enid Wilson; and daughter, Trudy Sutton.
Services will be held at Pleasant View Community Church, 14756 Lewis River Rd., Ariel, WA, at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 22, 2011. Interment will follow the services at Yale Cemetery. Private viewing will take place at Layne's Funeral Home, Battle Ground, WA on Friday, January 21, 2011 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Please direct donations to Shriners Hospital for Children, Doernbecher Children's Hospital, North Clark Historical Museum, or North County EMS.
Please sign Walt's guest book at: www.columbian.com/obits.

Published by The Columbian on Jan. 19, 2011.
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Memories and Condolences
for Walter Sutton

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I will miss you so much. I know you are charting new waters and finding the best places to dig clams. I loved going flying with you on our trips around St Helen's and checking out the logging site. I think it is wonderful that you are no longer grounded with your new set of wings. You were the best Dad a girl could ever ask for. It is an honor to say "Walt Sutton is my dad".

Lynda Sutton

February 1, 2011

We were so deeply saddened to learn of Uncle Walt's passing. The kind man with the big smile and even bigger heart has left us but he will not be forgotten.
We shared many happy adventures through the years and he was always so very good to Dale. Walt will be remembered fondly for his love of live and his generosity.
To Helen and the immediate family we send our love and sympathy. We were blessed to have him in our lives all these years and we share in your loss.
The Dale Wilson family - Kathy, Brent and Kristi

January 27, 2011

My deepest sympathies for your loss. I never worked for Walt, drove log truck for Joe Zumstein. I would occasionally talk with Walt and was always impressed. His legacy is huge and I will be miss him.

Fred Fague

January 23, 2011

Helen and family,
I want to express my heartfelt sympathy to you and your family. You are in our prayers.
Barbara Hagedorn and family

January 21, 2011

I wanted to send my prayers to the Sutton family! I never met Walt in person (as I was only the sub mail carrier) but have met Mrs Sutton a few times while bringing them boxes of fruit in the mail. I have heard many wonderful things about him and know he will be missed in the Amboy Community!

Kari Brandt

January 21, 2011

You will be missed!!! Our thoughts and prayers are with the family.

John,Marilee Easter

January 21, 2011

We're all going to miss you Uncle Walt. I'm glad you are no longer in pain. I have peace of mind knowing you're up in heaven with all of our loved ones we left. My mom probably has you and grama,Uncle Kevin and brother Dale riding our horses that are up there!

Bonnie Wilson

January 20, 2011

Our thoughts and prayers are with all of the Sutton family.
Doug and Carrie Moschetti

January 20, 2011

Sending sympathy and love to Helen and family. What a special man he was and a great neighbor. Love,
Jeanine Brigham and family

Jeanine Brigham

January 20, 2011

There wasn't one time, even when he wasn't feeling well, that Grandpa Walt failed to smile at me when we saw him. He was a dear man, and Louis and I will miss him forever. Tamara & Louis Sutton

Tamara Sutton

January 20, 2011

Grandpa,

I miss you so much but am comforted knowing that you had such a full life and are now where you will no longer be in pain. Thank you so much for all of the adventures and fun times. I will always cherish those memories. Thank you too for all that you taught me. You imparted much wisdom that I will continue to carry with me for all my life.

We love you so much,

Louis and Tami

Louis Sutton

January 19, 2011

Sending our deepest sympathies, to all of Walts family. Bud Yeo and Family ( Woodland Wa)

January 19, 2011

Sending our sympathies to all the Sutton families. Roy enjoyed working for Walt, talking and hunting with him. He will be missed by all that knew him!

RoyRowdy & Nancy Lee

January 19, 2011

Burke and Gayle Sawyer send their condolences to the family. Burke enjoyed working for Walt for many years and the hunting and fishing trips to Alaska with his wife Gayle. His whole family enjoyed the beach house for many years. Thank you also, for the trips to Alaska with Gayle's parents, Dick and Bill Baker who delighted in the adventures also. You will be greatly missed, Walt, as a special member of the Amboy community.

January 19, 2011

We send our deepest sympathies to all the Sutton family members. We know Walt was a great person, and will be missed by many. God Bless..
Kris and Ken Hoppenbworth

Kris Hoppenworth

January 19, 2011

What a great man and good neighbor,with our deepest sympathies, Anita,Larry Scott and Family- Lewiston,Idaho

January 19, 2011

Sending my deepest sympathies to all of the Sutton family. It is so sad to lose such an icon of the Amboy community.

Michelle Baker Kauffman

January 19, 2011

Walt, we will miss you so much. Sam talks about all the fun times he had with you and Grandma while he was growing up. You were a wonderful Grandpa and Great Grandpa to us and our kids!

Love Sam Andrea Stacy and Sterling Sutton

Andrea Sutton

January 19, 2011

Signing for my mother, Mable Gahr (now Compton) who grew up with and spent many days with the Hannah Family. She saw the obituary and I offered to sign for her. at 91 she lives in Forest Grove, Oregon in a Sr. appt. She has very fond memories.

Mable Gahr

January 19, 2011

Mable Gahr Compton

January 19, 2011

Gary and I have so many memorable times with Walt and Helen through out our "boating years". Walt made boating fun. He was kind, loved by all, and ready for a good laugh - even if he was the source of our laughs! He loved his family and especially grandchildren. We got to know his family and know his family loved him also. You and Helen will always be in hearts and memories.
love,
Gary & Karen Snekvik

Karen & Gary Snekvik

January 19, 2011

We will all miss Uncle Walt. There were so many things that I remember him for. He brought me on my first, of many, airplane rides and my first time deep sea fishing along with many other wonderful times. His service to the community and those in need will be missed by many. We love you Uncle Walt...

Wayne Sutton

January 19, 2011

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