Walter Slocum obituary: Walter Slocum's Obituary, Dove Topeka
In Memory Of
Walter "Walt" Slocum
1948 - 2017
In Memory Of
Walter "Walt" Slocum
1948 - 2017
Walter Slocum, 69, of Goff/Soldier died on July 2, 2017 at his home in Goff, Kansas.
Walt was born during a blizzard on January 10, 1948 to Vern and Evelyn (Fairbanks) Slocum from Soldier. Walt grew up on a farm south of Soldier, and he attended Sunny Slope grade school From there he went to Soldier High School and then graduated from Circleville High School in 1966. While in school Walt was very active in Jackson County’s Pleasant Valley Rustlers 4-H club where he showed Hereford cattle, winning many grand and reserve champion ribbons and numerous other awards in the Jackson county 4-H Fair. Walt also showed cattle at the Kansas Free Fair in Topeka.
In growing up, Walt never owned a bicycle, so he never learned how to ride one, but he definitely knew how to ride a horse! Walt’s family always had horses, and they broke horses to ride. This later started Walt in the rodeo which became a life-long love of his.
Walt joined the army in January of 1968, earning his Airborn Wings and then going on the serve 13 months in Vietnam where he was appointed to a small, select group of reconnaissance. While in the Army, Walt earned many medals. He was awarded four Bronze Stars with Valor Devise (above and beyond the call of duty,) two Army Accommodation medals, the Presidential Unit citation, a Vietnam Unit Citation and the Expert Weaponry Badge. Walt was wounded by shrapnel, so he was sent home to Ft. Sill, OK, where he was honorably discharged. Walt completed his tour of duty in January, 1970.
From that point Walt bought a tractor-trailer rig and began a career as an over-the-road trucker with destinations covering 49 states plus Canada and Mexico. Walt met his wife in New Mexico, but they later divorced. In the meantime Walt moved back to Kansas. At this time he was a member of the NE Kansas Mounted Posse, Shawnee Co. Mounted Posse and the Jackson Co. Mounted Posse. He was a Jackson County 4-H leader for several years, serving as the local, county, district and state leader in the horse program. Walt was one of the founding members of the Hoofbeat Horse Project in Jackson Co.
Walt attended the Auctioneering School in Kansas City, MO, earning a diploma in auctioneering. He then auctioned locally.
Later Walt attended the Colorado School of Mines, earning a degree in explosives. He then became a Blasting Technician for IRECO and Thermax Energy in the northwestern states. Due to an accident that aggravated a military injury, Walt returned to Kansas. After a few years of treatment at the V.A. Hospital, he retired in Goff, Kansas.
Walt was on the Goff City Council and was part of getting funding for the Goff Community Building. He always liked kids and tried to help them better themselves.
Walt was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Larry “Butch” Slocum and a nephew, Kenneth “Go-Rat” Slocum. He is survived by a son, Ken of Germany and a daughter, Tania, of Mexico.
A celebration of Walt’s life will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 5, 2017 at the Goff Community Building in Goff, KS.
To leave a special message for the family click the "Share Memories" button above.
Walt was born during a blizzard on January 10, 1948 to Vern and Evelyn (Fairbanks) Slocum from Soldier. Walt grew up on a farm south of Soldier, and he attended Sunny Slope grade school From there he went to Soldier High School and then graduated from Circleville High School in 1966. While in school Walt was very active in Jackson County’s Pleasant Valley Rustlers 4-H club where he showed Hereford cattle, winning many grand and reserve champion ribbons and numerous other awards in the Jackson county 4-H Fair. Walt also showed cattle at the Kansas Free Fair in Topeka.
In growing up, Walt never owned a bicycle, so he never learned how to ride one, but he definitely knew how to ride a horse! Walt’s family always had horses, and they broke horses to ride. This later started Walt in the rodeo which became a life-long love of his.
Walt joined the army in January of 1968, earning his Airborn Wings and then going on the serve 13 months in Vietnam where he was appointed to a small, select group of reconnaissance. While in the Army, Walt earned many medals. He was awarded four Bronze Stars with Valor Devise (above and beyond the call of duty,) two Army Accommodation medals, the Presidential Unit citation, a Vietnam Unit Citation and the Expert Weaponry Badge. Walt was wounded by shrapnel, so he was sent home to Ft. Sill, OK, where he was honorably discharged. Walt completed his tour of duty in January, 1970.
From that point Walt bought a tractor-trailer rig and began a career as an over-the-road trucker with destinations covering 49 states plus Canada and Mexico. Walt met his wife in New Mexico, but they later divorced. In the meantime Walt moved back to Kansas. At this time he was a member of the NE Kansas Mounted Posse, Shawnee Co. Mounted Posse and the Jackson Co. Mounted Posse. He was a Jackson County 4-H leader for several years, serving as the local, county, district and state leader in the horse program. Walt was one of the founding members of the Hoofbeat Horse Project in Jackson Co.
Walt attended the Auctioneering School in Kansas City, MO, earning a diploma in auctioneering. He then auctioned locally.
Later Walt attended the Colorado School of Mines, earning a degree in explosives. He then became a Blasting Technician for IRECO and Thermax Energy in the northwestern states. Due to an accident that aggravated a military injury, Walt returned to Kansas. After a few years of treatment at the V.A. Hospital, he retired in Goff, Kansas.
Walt was on the Goff City Council and was part of getting funding for the Goff Community Building. He always liked kids and tried to help them better themselves.
Walt was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Larry “Butch” Slocum and a nephew, Kenneth “Go-Rat” Slocum. He is survived by a son, Ken of Germany and a daughter, Tania, of Mexico.
A celebration of Walt’s life will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 5, 2017 at the Goff Community Building in Goff, KS.
To leave a special message for the family click the "Share Memories" button above.
Walter Slocum, 69, of Goff/Soldier died on July 2, 2017 at his home in Goff, Kansas.
Walt was born during a blizzard on January 10, 1948 to Vern and Evelyn (Fairbanks) Slocum from Soldier. Walt grew up on a farm south of Soldier, and he attended Sunny Slope grade school From there he went to Soldier High School and then graduated from Circleville High School in 1966. While in school Walt was very active in Jackson County’s Pleasant Valley Rustlers 4-H club where he showed Hereford cattle, winning many grand and reserve champion ribbons and numerous other awards in the Jackson county 4-H Fair. Walt also showed cattle at the Kansas Free Fair in Topeka.
In growing up, Walt never owned a bicycle, so he never learned how to ride one, but he definitely knew how to ride a horse! Walt’s family always had horses, and they broke horses to ride. This later started Walt in the rodeo which became a life-long love of his.
Walt joined the army in January of 1968, earning his Airborn Wings and then going on the serve 13 months in Vietnam where he was appointed to a small, select group of reconnaissance. While in the Army, Walt earned many medals. He was awarded four Bronze Stars with Valor Devise (above and beyond the call of duty,) two Army Accommodation medals, the Presidential Unit citation, a Vietnam Unit Citation and the Expert Weaponry Badge. Walt was wounded by shrapnel, so he was sent home to Ft. Sill, OK, where he was honorably discharged. Walt completed his tour of duty in January, 1970.
From that point Walt bought a tractor-trailer rig and began a career as an over-the-road trucker with destinations covering 49 states plus Canada and Mexico. Walt met his wife in New Mexico, but they later divorced. In the meantime Walt moved back to Kansas. At this time he was a member of the NE Kansas Mounted Posse, Shawnee Co. Mounted Posse and the Jackson Co. Mounted Posse. He was a Jackson County 4-H leader for several years, serving as the local, county, district and state leader in the horse program. Walt was one of the founding members of the Hoofbeat Horse Project in Jackson Co.
Walt attended the Auctioneering School in Kansas City, MO, earning a diploma in auctioneering. He then auctioned locally.
Later Walt attended the Colorado School of Mines, earning a degree in explosives. He then became a Blasting Technician for IRECO and Thermax Energy in the northwestern states. Due to an accident that aggravated a military injury, Walt returned to Kansas. After a few years of treatment at the V.A. Hospital, he retired in Goff, Kansas.
Walt was on the Goff City Council and was part of getting funding for the Goff Community Building. He always liked kids and tried to help them better themselves.
Walt was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Larry “Butch” Slocum and a nephew, Kenneth “Go-Rat” Slocum. He is survived by a son, Ken of Germany and a daughter, Tania, of Mexico.
A celebration of Walt’s life will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 5, 2017 at the Goff Community Building in Goff, KS.
To leave a special message for the family click the "Share Memories" button above.
Walt was born during a blizzard on January 10, 1948 to Vern and Evelyn (Fairbanks) Slocum from Soldier. Walt grew up on a farm south of Soldier, and he attended Sunny Slope grade school From there he went to Soldier High School and then graduated from Circleville High School in 1966. While in school Walt was very active in Jackson County’s Pleasant Valley Rustlers 4-H club where he showed Hereford cattle, winning many grand and reserve champion ribbons and numerous other awards in the Jackson county 4-H Fair. Walt also showed cattle at the Kansas Free Fair in Topeka.
In growing up, Walt never owned a bicycle, so he never learned how to ride one, but he definitely knew how to ride a horse! Walt’s family always had horses, and they broke horses to ride. This later started Walt in the rodeo which became a life-long love of his.
Walt joined the army in January of 1968, earning his Airborn Wings and then going on the serve 13 months in Vietnam where he was appointed to a small, select group of reconnaissance. While in the Army, Walt earned many medals. He was awarded four Bronze Stars with Valor Devise (above and beyond the call of duty,) two Army Accommodation medals, the Presidential Unit citation, a Vietnam Unit Citation and the Expert Weaponry Badge. Walt was wounded by shrapnel, so he was sent home to Ft. Sill, OK, where he was honorably discharged. Walt completed his tour of duty in January, 1970.
From that point Walt bought a tractor-trailer rig and began a career as an over-the-road trucker with destinations covering 49 states plus Canada and Mexico. Walt met his wife in New Mexico, but they later divorced. In the meantime Walt moved back to Kansas. At this time he was a member of the NE Kansas Mounted Posse, Shawnee Co. Mounted Posse and the Jackson Co. Mounted Posse. He was a Jackson County 4-H leader for several years, serving as the local, county, district and state leader in the horse program. Walt was one of the founding members of the Hoofbeat Horse Project in Jackson Co.
Walt attended the Auctioneering School in Kansas City, MO, earning a diploma in auctioneering. He then auctioned locally.
Later Walt attended the Colorado School of Mines, earning a degree in explosives. He then became a Blasting Technician for IRECO and Thermax Energy in the northwestern states. Due to an accident that aggravated a military injury, Walt returned to Kansas. After a few years of treatment at the V.A. Hospital, he retired in Goff, Kansas.
Walt was on the Goff City Council and was part of getting funding for the Goff Community Building. He always liked kids and tried to help them better themselves.
Walt was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Larry “Butch” Slocum and a nephew, Kenneth “Go-Rat” Slocum. He is survived by a son, Ken of Germany and a daughter, Tania, of Mexico.
A celebration of Walt’s life will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 5, 2017 at the Goff Community Building in Goff, KS.
To leave a special message for the family click the "Share Memories" button above.
Services & Gatherings
Memorial Service
Saturday, August 5, 2017 from 10:00am - 12:00pm
Dove Cremation & Funeral Service - Topeka
4020 SW Sixth Street
Topeka, KS 66606
Southeast Chapel (785-272-8844) is assisting the family
Southeast Chapel (785-272-8844) is assisting the family