Milton “Milt” Albert Walls
America’s “Greatest Generation” lost another member with the death of Milton “Milt” Albert Walls in Fruita, Colorado, December 20, 2011. He was a man who lived life with honor, accomplishment, and enthusiasm for 91 years and served his country and fellow citizens in times of both war and peace.
Milt was born on April 11, 1920, to George and Ruby (Barney) Walls on Vashon Island, in Washington State. After graduating from Vashon Island High School, he worked in construction on the Oakland, California, waterfront. Then, in the spring of 1941, Milt enlisted in the US Army Air Corps and became an expert B-17 aerial gunner. With World War II raging, he and Lucille Hineman—a farm girl from Haverhill, Iowa—were married in Denver, Colorado in 1942. When Milt received orders to go to England, he brought Lucille and their firstborn, son Harry, to Vashon to live with his folks. While overseas, Milt flew more than 125 terrifying combat missions as a nose gunner and “toggler” (dropping bombs by releasing them with a toggle switch). He survived two crashes of B17s when they were shot down and came home to Vashon a decorated hero.
There he settled into family life and with his father, a skilled shipwright, formed Walls and Walls Boat Works at Colvos, on the West side of the island. But in 1950, they lost the business to an accidental fire. Both son Dale and daughter Sylvia were born on Vashon during this era. He worked for Kirschner Manufacturing, did commercial salmon fishing in Alaska during the summers, and maintained the island’s west side public water system.
Milt had been involved with fraternal organizations since age 18, when he became a member of the local Odd Fellows lodge. After the war, he joined the Veterans of Foreign Wars and soon became commander of the island’s post. He also served as a troop leader and regional director of the Boy Scouts. He loved fishing, ballroom dancing and dirt biking. He was smarter than the fish, was a gentleman around the ladies and push the envelope dirt biking. The memories of how well he could tell stories around an evening campfire, or recite poetry, live on.
Milt had acquired considerable building skills and a contractor’s license by the time Bruce Dixon approached him to build a structure to house his ship compass manufacturing business on Vashon. They became lifelong friends. In 1963, Dixon moved his operation to Grand Junction, Colorado, and invited Milt to follow him there to work as plant maintenance supervisor for Dixon Manufacturing Inc.
Milt served as Water District Commissioner for Redlands, Colorado, for many years. He joined the Lions Club and promoted their causes to the utmost for over four decades. Later, he also joined the Fraternal Order of Eagles. He enjoyed the fellowship immensely.
After 59 years of a good marriage, Milt unexpectedly lost his wife Lucille. Toward the end of his life, he lived for two years with his daughter Sylvia, who lovingly cared for him at her home in Loma, Colorado, until he moved into a nursing home in Fruita, where he spent his last year.
Milt’s passing is mourned by his three children, Harry F. Walls of Nipomo, CA, Dale L. Walls of Bloomfield, NM, and Sylvia Y. McElhiney of Loma, brothers John Walls of Hilo, HI and Frank Walls of Henderson, NV, seven grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and close friend Linda Cruz.
Paid Obituary.
