John Joseph Walton

Thomas John Joseph Walton (more commonly known as Joe to family and friends) passed away on July 14, 2024 in the 91st year of his life. Joe is survived by his beloved wife and best friend, Marion, and will be sadly missed by his loving family, daughters Debbie (Jim), Cindy (Garry), Laurel (Clifford – predeceased), Kelly (John), and son Christopher (Christina).

Joe is also survived by 13 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren, sister-in-law Doreen and brothers-in-law Tom, Norman and Orville, and well as many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents, Thomas and Elizabeth Walton, sister Sylvia (Gino), nephew Thomas, and brother-in-law Ronald (Margaret), brother-in-law Nick, and sister-in-laws Shirley, Sharon, and Nina.

Joe was born near Mayerthorpe in the Lily Lake district. At a young age his family moved to a homestead on the Pembina river across from the community of Sangudo. He grew up there, working on the farm until he graduated from school. Several years later, after his career was established, his wife Marion joined him as they returned to the region to raise a family.

Joe started working for Imperial Oil in 1952. His career spanned 4 decades, first in seismic and exploration across Saskatchewan, Alberta and the NWT and then into production at the Swan Hills Judy Creek facility. It was in Saskatchewan, he met the woman he would eventually marry. It was during his exploration days, he had the opportunity to dip his toes in the Arctic Ocean. We even made him his own Arctic history book with some of his stories!

Our dad lived his life to the fullest alongside his partner, Marion for almost 68 years. They worked together, whether farming or in the oil patch, to build a rewarding life for their children and later, for themselves in retirement – camping, hiking, golfing and travelling from Pacific to Atlantic because dad wanted to step in all three of Canada’s oceans. He achieved his goal. It was also during this time, he took on a father figure role to granddaughter Sara.

We have so many wonderful memories of our dad . . . taking lunch out to the field while he was working the land, sitting beside him while he played the piano and accordian – he was a self-taught musician who played by ear, splashing in the Pembina River in summer and ski-dooing across the land in the winter. There were the nicknames for the grandkids – his ghouls and bandits and his insistence he was the oldest living teenager. Dad loved to camp and travel; he was an adventurer at heart. He will be dearly missed.

Donations can be made to the Barrhead Healthcare Center Auxiliary.

A family graveside service will be held at a later date.

Those we love, don’t go away, they walk beside us every day.

Unseen, unheard, but always near, so loved, so missed, so very dear.