Wally Staflin

Wally Staflin, born Jan. 28, 1941 in Noonan, ND died peacefully on February 19, 2021 in Litchfield Park, AZ. He was 80 years old. He battled Alzheimer’s Disease for several years and, at the end, also COVID. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Pat Staflin of Goodyear, AZ; daughter, Jennifer Staflin of Goodyear, AZ; sons and daughters-in-law Michael and Stacey Franks of Columbia, MO, Don and Sandy Staflin of Goodyear, AZ; sister and brother-in-law Rhonda and Harvey Hirata of Weiser, ID; brother Mike Staflin of Yuma, AZ; niece Stephanie Huff (Lane); nephews Christopher Koehler (Cara), Matthew Hirata, Jeff Hirata. He is also survived by 2 granddaughters, Kendra Staflin of Melbourne, FL and Amanda Skogstad (Chad) of North Augusta, SC; and 7 grandnieces/nephews Jansen, Laurie, Anna, Henry, Catherine and Georgia Koehler and Margot Huff.

Prior to his military service, Wally worked many farming/fishing jobs in the Skagit Valley/Anacortes, Washington area. His favorite was commercial salmon fishing in the open waters of Alaska for 4 summers to help pay his tuition to Western Washington University, graduating in 1964. In 1965 he joined the US Army, serving in the military intelligence field as an enlisted soldier, a commissioned officer and a warrant officer for 25 years, retiring in 1989. He served in Vietnam 1967-68 and took part in the TET Offensive in Jan. 1968. After retiring, he worked for the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) for 23 years until his retirement in 2012. He devoted 48 years of service to this country that he loved so very much. He traveled to over 45 other countries, some for work, some for fun, but he valued those experiences and always had good stories to tell.

After retirement he volunteered for Special Olympics Arizona as a bowling coach and whatever else was needed. He was a man of faith and volunteered at many parishes throughout the years including religious education teacher at St. Sebastian Parish in Frankfurt, Germany, Justice and Peace Outreach at St. Bernadette in Severn, MD and the Knights of Columbus, St. Henry Council (3rd and 4th Degree) in Buckeye, AZ. While living in Maryland, he helped build houses with Anne Arundel Habitat for Humanity. Wally passionately believed in helping others before self and he lived that 100%.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Henry Catholic Parish, Buckeye, AZ on Thursday, March 11, 2021 at 10:00am. A private committal ceremony with military honors will be held at a future date at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona in Phoenix. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Special Olympics Arizona/Southwest Valley Geckos.