William Miller Walton, Jr.

William “Bill” Miller Walton, Jr., was born on October 23, 1929, in Jacksonville, Texas, and passed away in Dallas, Texas, on September 15, 2022. Bill grew up in Dallas, graduating from Highland Park High School in 1947 and the University of Oklahoma in 1951 with a geology degree. He was preceded in death by his parents, William Miller Walton, Sr. and Helen Lucretia Hart Walton; his wife, the love of his life for 56 years, Fannie “Fan” Mae Blaylock Walton and his special companion for the last 9 years, Beverley Roes. He is survived by daughters, Sandra Kay Walton and spouse, Adalia Cavazos of Dallas, Suzanne Walton Landstrom and spouse, Bradley Landstrom of Houston, and son,Robert James Walton and spouse, Kathy Walton of Houston; grandsons Matthew Makoto Walton (fiancée Mary Holguin) and Zachary Akagi Walton; granddaughters, Adrian Clare Landstrom, Madeline Hill Landstrom (fiancé Russell Thomas), and Kirby Jo Connell (spouse Timothy Connell); great-grandchildren Noah, Harrison, Caroline and Grace Connell.

Bill was first employed by the Carter Oil Company, working in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi before going to Venezuela on a loan assignment. He married Fan on October 22, 1955, and they returned together to Venezuela. He transferred to Creole Petroleum and the family moved from Caracas to Western Venezuela, living in the oil camp Tia Juana on Lake Maracaibo and then returning to Caracas, where all three children were born. The family later moved back to Tia Juana until Bill left Creole in 1974 to work for Amerada Hess in New York City, while living in New Canaan, Connecticut. While in New York, Bill traveled extensively to Central and South America, the Caribbean and Canada on company business. In 1976, Bill was appointed Vice President and General Manager of Amerada Petroleum Corporation of Norway and moved to Stavanger, Norway, for 9 years, managing the company’s Norwegian North Sea interests. While in Norway, the family traveled extensively throughout Scandinavia, England and Europe.

In 1985, Bill and Fan returned to New York where he was the Manager of International Joint Ventures for Amerada Hess. He took an early retirement in 1986 and moved back to Dallas. In retirement, Bill was Director of Trade Counseling with the International Trade Resource Center and later as an international trade consultant with Global American Trade Corp., before retiring completely to spend time with family and friends. He became an avid genealogy researcher of both his and his wife’s families and was a member of several genealogical and professional societies.

In 2010, Bill and Fan moved to The Tradition-Prestonwood, where they made many friends. When Fan passed away in December 2011, it was Bill’s friendships at the Tradition that helped raise his spirits. He later developed a close friendship with Beverley Roes and the two of them were inseparable for the past nine years. While at the Tradition, Bill was a member of the “Founders Club” and enjoyed playing pegs and jokers and participating in as many social events as he could.

A memorial service to celebrate Bill’s life will be held at 2:00 pm on September 23, 2022, at the Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home in Dallas, Texas. Masks are preferred to be worn.

Flowers are welcome or donations may be made in the name of Bill Walton to either Direct Relief Covid-19 Response (directrelief.org) or The Gifted Tree (thegiftedtree.com/memorial-gift-tree).

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Sparkman-Hillcrest.com for the Walton, family.