Walter E. Small, 80, a resident of Sedro-Woolley, passed away on Saturday, December 13, 2008 at St. Joseph Hospital in Bellingham with his son and daughter at his side.
Walt was born on February 23, 1928 in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, the son of Wesley & Catherine Blevins Small.
He was raised in Wisconsin until moving with his family to Burlington, Washington in 1938. It was there he attended school, graduating from Burlington-Edison with the class of 1945.
After graduating high school, Walt joined the Merchant Marines, during which time he traveled to Peru and other South American countries.
Upon his discharge, he returned to the Skagit Valley and on September 4, 1948 he was united in marriage to Joyce Thibodeaux. They made their home in Burlington. During the early years of his marriage, Walt was a co-owner and operator of a gas station in Mount
Vernon. He also worked for a short time in construction but after attending Barber School he made barbering his career. He operated Walt’s Barber Shop on Garl Street across from the high school in Burlington for over 30 years. He also barbered at the Sportsman’s Den in Burlington with his business partner Bob Gummere until his retirement in the early 1990’s. Walt and Joyce enjoyed traveling, and spent many winters in Yuma Arizona.
In 1993 they moved to Texas to enjoy the sunshine until 2003, when due to Joyce’s declining health, they returned to Skagit County and settled in Sedro-Woolley. Walt’s devotion to his wife during her illness was remarkable. He learned to facilitate her kidney dialysis with a home dialysis machine which greatly improved her quality of life.
Walt and Joyce also enjoyed dancing and rarely missed an opportunity to show off their dancing moves, most recently at Hillcrest Lodge in Mt. Vernon. Walt enjoyed singing Barbershop, and was a member of a men’s group when he lived in Yuma. He was also a member of the Burlington Eagles, the Mount Vernon Elks Lodge and the La Conner Yacht Club, where he served as Commodore.
Every morning Walt could be found having coffee at Joy’s Bakery in Sedro Woolley with retired friends and family members sharing good conversation. He attended the Valley Baptist Church in Sedro-Woolley and the Good Shepherd Baptist Church in Burlington.
Walt is survived by his children, Roger Small and his wife, Patty of Burlington and Janice McNutt and her husband, Dan of Boothbay, Maine. Eight grandchildren, Micah, Katie, Zachary and Heather Small and Mathew McNutt and his wife, Heather, Dan and Jonathan McNutt and Ruth Perry and her husband, Logan. Six great-grandchildren, Micah, Caleb, Noah and Zachary McNutt and Josiah & Benjamin Perry. His siblings, Duane Small and his wife Ethel, Patsy Fritsch, Marilyn Barrington and her husband Rex, Ron Small and Dr. Robert Small and his wife Anne. A brother-in-law, Bill Thibodeaux and his wife Opal in Tennessee, special friend, Betty Morgan and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Wesley & Catherine and in 2005 by his wife Joyce.
Private inurnment will be at the Greenhills Cemetery in Burlington. A Life Celebration with music and dancing will be held for friends and family at the Sedro-Woolley Community Center on Friday, December 19, 2008 from 1 to 4 PM.
Memorials in memory of Walt are suggested to Skagit Hospice, PO Box 1376, Mount Vernon, WA 98274
Cremation and services are under the direction of Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley.