Donald Raymond Walton

Donald R. Walton, 96, died peacefully on March 12, 2024, at the Windemere in Cedar Falls surrounded by his family. Mass of Christian burial will be 10:00 a.m. Monday, March 18, 2024 at St. Patrick Catholic Church, with interment in the Greenwood Cemetery, both in Cedar Falls. Rosary will be 3:30 p.m. Sunday followed by a visitation from 4 to 7 p.m. concluding with at 7 p.m. Vigil Service at the Richardson Funeral Service. Don was born April 30, 1927, in Clinton, Iowa, the second of four sons born to Raymond E. and Magdalena (Manemann) Walton. He graduated from St. Mary’s High School in 1945, then joined the U.S. Navy to serve in the South Pacific during World War II. After service, he graduated from St. Ambrose University in Davenport in 1951 with his B.A. He was awarded his M.A. from the University of Northern Iowa in 1962. On August 22, 1952, he married Rita Herrity of Clinton, the love of his life, to whom he was married for sixty-one years until her passing in 2013. Rita continued to be a felt presence in his life even after her death. Don worked as a junior high teacher for the Cedar Falls School District from 1953-1955. Then he worked as the Personnel Director for Viking Pump Company from 1955 to 1965. From 1966 to 1993 he was continuously employed by the University of Northern Iowa, first as Director of Personnel, rising to Assistant Vice President of Personnel Service. During his later years at UNI, to keep himself busy Don worked as a weekend night clerk at the Howard Johnson’s on University Avenue. For several years, he also operated the Burbridge hot turkey sandwich stand at the annual National Cattle Congress in Waterloo. Don’s interest in university human resources also took him to Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, from 1984 to 1988, and Emporia State University in Emporia, Kansas in 1988. After retiring from UNI, he worked at Hawkeye Community College as a Workforce Development Specialist. His other work included as a GED substitute teacher and service as a mediator for the Iowa Public Employment Relations Board for many years. In all, he dedicated over 30 years of service to the public and working persons. Faith, family, and work defined Don Walton. He watched his father, a railroad engineer, die of a brain tumor at only 14 years of age. Initially rejected for service by the U.S. Navy for his flat feet, he traveled to the Chicago induction center, balanced on the outside edges of his feet, and was accepted, which he considered a significant life accomplishment. He did not like taking “no” for an answer. While he fell for Rita when he was in fourth grade, won her box lunch chicken dinner at a St. Valentine’s auction in 1942 (tipped off by her girlfriends), and slipped his class ring into her pocket when he shipped out for the war, when he returned from overseas, Rita was then a novice in a Carmelite convent. In 1946, while ushering a wedding at St. Irenaeus Church, they reunited. Despite the lack of comparable fringe benefits, Rita chose Don over the convent. His blue eyes and infectious laugh probably helped. Don was a dedicated parishioner of St. Patrick’s in Cedar Falls. He served as an usher, on various committees, including as President of the Parish Council, as a member of the board of the St. Vincent DePaul Society, Eucharistic minister, and Den Leader for Cub Scout Pack 70. For years, he took 3 a.m. shift for the perpetual adoration of the Holy Eucharist at the Columbus High School Chapel in Waterloo. He occupied the same pew at 7:30 a.m. mass every Sunday, following the prayer of the rosary. He loved his other parishioners. In turn, he felt their love for him, for which he was very thankful. Not until his final retirement did Don have much spare time. He focused on Walton and Herrity family history, completing a detailed volume on the Walton family tree, but he was still chasing the birthplace in Ireland of the family progenitor and immigrant to American, Patrick Walton. He continued to counsel his children and their children about careers and workplace issues. He never missed the many important family events. He always loved tinkering with old Plymouth and Dodge convertibles and will miss the guys at Aikey’s Auto Salvage. The concerns of residents of his retirement community also became his concerns in his later years. Don Walton collected people of all kinds and enjoyed getting to know all about them. He was known for his helping hand and ready smile and laugh, but he could be dogged in pursuit of what he thought was right. He was a man of faith, shown in good works. His well-springs were the Catholic faith and family. He loved Cedar Falls, foregoing several career opportunities elsewhere. His family lived on West 18th Street, Main Street, 13th Street, and finally, on Grand Boulevard. The Sturgis Falls parade watched from the same spot at 11th and Main was a tradition for him. He will miss not seeing finished the new welcome sign to downtown. Don is survived by two brothers, Joseph (Patricia) Walton, Nathaniel F. (Mary) Walton, three sisters-in-law, Patricia Walton, Rose Walton, and Jeanne Herrity. His pride and joy were his five children Ruthanne (Jon) Weispfenning, Winona, Minnesota, D. Raymond (Jacqueline) Walton, J.D., Regina (Wayde) Blumhardt, Jacqueline (Jeff) Jorgensen, Waterloo-Cedar Falls, Iowa, and Tom (Lori) Walton, J.D., Waukee, Iowa. His survivors include fourteen grandchildren and ten great grandchildren. Don is preceded in death by his parents, wife, Rita, younger brother Eugene Walton, five sisters-in-law, four brothers-in-law, three nephews and two nieces, and many old friends he will see again. Memorials may be given to the St. Patrick Catholic Church Foundation for the Future, St. Patrick Knights of Columbus, St. Vincent de Paul, or Cedar Valley Hospice, in lieu of flowers. Carved on Don and Rita’s headstone is the request “Pray for Us.” Please do so for them.

Donald Raymond Walton

April 30, 1927 - March 12, 2024