Walter David Wruble, 74, of Spokane, WA, passed away, surrounded by his family, on Wednesday, November 1, of autoimmune encephalitis. Walt was a devoted husband, father and grandfather who took great joy in his family. He was born on May 8, 1943 in Spokane, WA. Walt graduated from West Valley High School in 1961 and received a BS of Agronomy from WSU in 1965. He was married to Linda Nelson on July 8, 1967 and they celebrated 50 years together last July.
Walt was raised on the family farm in the Foothills of Mt. Spokane. Through the example of his father, he developed a love of baseball at young age. He played through high school and college and was known as a slugger. He often said, “You don’t have to run very fast if you hit the ball hard enough!”
After college, Walt began a 30-year career with the Dept. of Natural Resources. When he retired in 1996 he was the Eastern Washington Investigator. He was also instrumental in bringing a Volunteer Fire Station to the Foothills area and served as Battalion Chief for 7 years. He took the wealth of experience he gained with the DNR as a Fire Control Forester and Investigator and started his own consulting business, Wruble Wildland Services. For 21 years he was called upon across the western United States as an investigator and expert witness in fire cause and origin, fire cost and recovery and defensible space. He was actively involved in the wildland investigative community as a teacher and a leader.
Walt’s roots run deep in the Foothills area. We’ve been told he is known as the unofficial “Mayor” of Foothills. He spent his life serving and caring for not only his family, but also his community. He and Linda moved back to the area in 1970 to raise their family. While he was working with the DNR he also worked on and managed the family farm. His love for sports remained as he taught all 3 of his daughters the finer points of baseball and football and for 10 years ran the lines at EVHS football games. Walt loved history and enjoyed traveling with Linda to historical sites all over the country. Walt and Linda were active members of Foothills Community Church and have served there for 40 years. Walt never met a stranger, within moments he had a new friend. He was loved well by many and had a rich life cultivated by hard work, honesty, integrity, generosity, and humor.
He is survived by his wife Linda Wruble: his daughters Kristi (Brian) Gleason, Diane (Kelly) Prior, Sharon (Tyler) Withrow: his grandchildren David (Savannah) Gleason, Danae (Daniel) Kay, Hannah Gleason, Jackson Prior, Parker Prior, Molly Withrow, Libby Withrow: his great-granddaughter Haven Gleason and his brothers and sisters-in-law and numerous nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister.
A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, November 18 at Foothills Community Church at 1:00 pm, 11102 N Forker Rd. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to Foothills Community Church or Shriners Hospital of Spokane.
Arrangements under the direction of Hazen & Jaeger Valley Funeral Home-Pines, Spokane, WA.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
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