Walter F. Warden

Walter Frank Warden died Saturday, May 24, 2014, at his home. He was 90.

He was born on Nov. 15, 1923, to Jeff and Lula Hill Warden in Corvallis. He attended elementary and high school in Corvallis. He worked on the family farm in the Bitterroot Valley, growing sugar beets. Besides farming, Walter also worked as a logger in the Jocko Valley and in the shipyards in Seattle.

He was honorably discharged from military service from Camp Hale, Colorado, in May 1943, after contracting rheumatic fever.

On Dec. 20, 1952, he married Frances Lairy, also born and raised in Corvallis. She was his lifelong friend and companion, and long missed, passing before him in January 2000.

In 1957, he attended barber college in Spokane, Washington, and barbered in Missoula for the next 30 years.

Walter was a do-it-yourself man, and helped his family with many projects. He took his young family camping on the lakes of the Clearwater River every weekend in the summer. He was an avid fisherman, enjoying trolling for lake trout and salmon, and especially casting for whitefish on the riverbanks in the winter.

His family and friends will miss his smile and sense of humor, his easy laughter, and his generous heart.

He is survived by his daughter, Terri Reimers and his son-in-law Robert Reimers of Missoula; his son, Larry Warden of Missoula; his daughter, Becky Warden and his son-in-law Frank White of Woodinville, Washington; his granddaughter, Ashley Reimers Strayer and her husband Ty Strayer and his great-grandson Noxon Ty Strayer of Florence; a brother-in-law, J.R. "Bum" Lairy of Corvallis; a niece and nephew in Montana and Idaho; and nieces in Oregon, Washington and New York.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Frances; and his brothers and sisters, Woodrow and Edward Warden, Beulah Dawson and Ruth Breen.

At Walter's request, he will be cremated and no memorial services will be held. The family requests that any donations be made to Missoula Aging Services and Hospice.
Read Walter Warden's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.