Rev. William T. Walton, who was born July 26, 1931, in Tamaqua, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, served as the minister of two Lykens Valley area congregations: St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Tower City, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania; and Simeon Lutheran Church, Gratz, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. He also served as an interim pastor at Millersburg, Dauphin County. He died on May 19, 2012.
His obituary appeared in many area newspapers as well as on the funeral home web site.
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WILLIAM THOMAS WALTON
May 19, 2012
GRATZ – William Thomas Walton went home to live with his brother Jesus on May 19, 2012. William’s life was a testament to his advocacy of people coping with the difficulties of the human condition. He had a deep belief in the Christian principles of the Holy Trinity and Divine Grace.
He spent his professional career as a Lutheran minister, earning his bachelor’s degree from Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and master’s degrees from the Lutheran Seminary, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Marywood University, Scranton, Pennsylvania. He earned his DMin through Wartburg University, Waverly, Iowa.
A native of central Pennsylvania’s Panther Valley, William received the Pro Deo Et Patria scouting Award and spent so much of his childhood roaming the woods he earned the nickname “Nature Boy.”
His career was spent serving at parishes all over Pennsylvania: Grace Lutheran Church in Norristown; Trinity Lutheran Church, Coatesville; Advent Mission Church, Richboro; St Paul’s Lutheran Church, Tower City;, and Trinity Lutheran Church, Clarks Summit; before retiring as pastor of Simeon Lutheran Church in Gratz, Pennsylvania, in 1986. In retirement he served as chaplain at Susquehanna Lutheran Village and as interim pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Millersburg, Pennsylvania, where he taught a Bethel bible study course for many years.
Throughout his life he championed those with weak societal voices. He trained youth at work camps in mental hospitals and retirement homes. He worked extensively in prison ministry and for prisoner’s rights in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Throughout his life he attempted to bridge the divisions in the church. In his last years he converted to Catholicism. This conversion gave him great strength throughout the many years of his suffering.
The “Wampus” was an avid reader on a broad area of topics. He loved to hike, sail, paint, and study history, and was a prolific writer of short stories and editorials.
William and his wife of 57 years, Mary Ann [Jolley] Walton, were inseparable. They met at Camp Daddy Allen in 1948 as counselors for children living with crippling conditions. She supported him devotedly through his many parish assignments. They found yearly recuperation during their summer sojourns to the northern Maine woods. Mary Ann survives her husband along with daughters Rebecca [Walton] Adrian, Annie [Walton] Lane and Sarah [Walton] Bragan; ten grandchildren as well as two great-grandchildren. His brother, Stewart Walton, his wife, Judy Walton, and two nephews, also survive him.
A private family mass was celebrated at Queen of Peace Catholic Church, Millersburg, Pennsylvania. A gathering to celebrate his life will be announced at a later date.
William passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family. In lieu of flowers, we ask that you remember Hospice of Central Pennsylvania, whose compassionate care allowed Bill to spend his last days at his home with those who loved him as he did them.
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