Ray Marvin Walters

Ray was the son of Darrell and Faye Walters, brother of Dean Walters, husband of Madeline Walters (deceased), father of Charlene Schutte (Walters), Ron Walters and Darrell Walters (deceased), Grandfather of Kurtis (deceased), Keith and Little Ray.

Ray was a graduate of CU Boulder and retired from Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. In the 1950’s Ray served in the US Navy.

Ray grew up in Delta Colorado in a house out in the country near a river. Ray and brother Dean played outdoors and fished for fun. Ray’s father Darrell worked various positions for the railroad and became a conductor. Attending college was strongly influenced by Ray’s father Darrell. Ray’s mother Faye would work odd jobs to add income for the boys to go to college. Ray started college at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction and graduated from CU Boulder. Ray’s younger brother Dean said Ray set a good example as an older brother by going to college and he followed in the same manner.

Ray greeted everyone with a warm smile and a humorous personality. He loved to photograph flowers, animals and natural scenery especially during travel. He was passionate about the CU Buffaloes and the Denver Broncos and held Bronco's season tickets for years. He was always positive and kept his youthful outlook all through life. His biological age was much younger than his chronological age and it was evident to all people that he met. In his later years Ray would accompany family and friends to just about any event and fit in naturally whether it was dinner, parties, watching live music, parades, firework displays or anything else. Ray also kept a youthful innocence and was an extremely generous person to family and to those in need. He was always prompt and never forgot a special occasion of a friend or family member.

Ray had a great passion for travel and adventure all his life. The family would travel and do some adventuring every year with a lot of camping and added motorcycle trail bike riding when the kids were able to. In retirement Ray and Madeline took their travel trailer to the warmer western states for winter time and stayed in various locations including Yuma AZ and Death Valley. They square danced, attended and took grandchildren to amusement parks, hot air balloon festivals, air shows … and fun trips including Grand Canyon and Disneyland. Ray and Madeline also did a lot of travel from coast to coast visiting family in early retirement.

Not long after Madeline retired, she was diagnosed with cancer. Ray took care of her lovingly and diligently throughout the stages of her disease. They had hoped to travel the world and now Ray would have to adjust to his new life without Madeline in it.

When Ray was widowed, he found a great travel companion and partner in a lady he had dated while in college. Her name is Pat and she was also alone after losing her husband. Ray and Pat and their families had some common background in the past, reunited as travel companions and did a lot of travel together including China, a European river cruise, a Mexico cruise, Hawaii and the Galapagos Islands just to name a few. Ray and Pat started a personal relationship, looked out for each other and always enjoyed each other‘s company. Ray would make extended visits at Pat’s home hours away from his house.

When the COVID-19 pandemic came Ray and Pat were able to keep safe in Pat’s house reading, taking walks and watching movies. Pat’s family would deliver groceries and any needed items to minimize their exposure to public places. When Ray couldn’t visit, he would always call Pat every evening and at the end of their conversation tell her “I love you” which made her day.

Ray will be always be remembered by all who knew him for his witty sense of humor, warm personality, kindness, generosity, integrity and his continual display of love and devotion.