Colonel John Wiley Walton Sr. USAF Retired

Colonel John W. Walton, USAF, Ret., of Plano passed into heaven on Saturday, June 11th. His wife of 61 years, Bette, was by his side until the very end. She was comforted in her grief by their children John Walton, Jr of Richardson, TX, Stephen Walton, of Plano, TX, Michael Walton of Plano, TX, and Elizabeth Pennywell of Frisco, Texas.

Colonel Walton was born on January 3, 1929, in Kansas City, Missouri, to James and Helen Eggleston Walton. He was a happy child and adored by his brothers Harry, Bob, and Frank as well as his sisters Katherine, Helen, Leona, Dolly, and Norma.

He began his military service in 1946 as a soldier in the 1st Cavalry Division as part of the Army of Occupation in Japan. He served two years and earned an Army Good Conduct Medal before returning to the United States.

He reenlisted as an Air Force cadet when the Korean War began and was commissioned in 1952 while earning his qualification as an aerial navigator. After he flew five combat search and rescue missions in North Korea at the end of the Korean War, he spent the next twenty five years in assignments ranging from flying duties in Europe, Africa and Asia, as well as staff assignments at the highest levels within the military.

He was stationed at Charleston Air Force Base in 1955 when he was introduced to Bette Jean Newsom of Summerville, SC. He was immediately smitten with her beauty, grace, and kindness, and he called on her each afternoon for the next five days being called away on an overseas assignment. They were engaged six weeks later and married shortly thereafter.

The Air Force sent John and Bette around the world and back again. He earned a master’s degree from Boston University in 1961, and while assigned to duty in Alaska in 1964, he served in Operation HELPING HAND, providing relief supplies to victims of the Great Alaskan Earthquake. During the Vietnam War he flew 177 combat missions in Laos and Cambodia as Chief Navigator for the 606th Special Operations Squadron. He was promoted to Colonel in 1972, and spent his last years on active duty as the Director for Information at Strategic Air Command in Omaha, Nebraska.

One of his proudest professional achievements as an Air Force Officer was the patent he held for a commemorative coin he designed to honor the 25th anniversary of the United States Air Force. The coin is one of only two man-made objects of art left on the surface of the moon, and was left there by the crew of Apollo 16 in 1972.

He retired in 1977 having served nearly 30 years. His personal awards included a Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross Medal, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, and Air Medal.

He began his second career in Omaha in the late 1970s when he founded the advertising firm of Abbott, Walton, and Phillips. He started Walton Communications in Dallas in 1984, and had numerous successful marketing ventures in both the media industry before retiring in 2011.

His proudest personal achievement was his wide circle of loving family and friends. Besides his wife and children he was a generous uncle and great uncle, and devoted grandfather of Katherine, David, Chad, Mary, Andrew, and John Paul, as well as great grandchildren Kaylee and Graysen.

A viewing is planned at Ted Dickey West Funeral Home on Monday, 20 June at 6 PM .The funeral with will be held at Grace Presbyterian Church in Plano on Tuesday, 21 June at 10:30AM. Following the funeral, a service with full military honors will be held at 2:15PM on Tuesday, 21 June at the Dallas-Fort Worth Military Cemetery in Dallas, Texas.