Walter Lee Kirkwood was born October 7, 1935 in Portland, Oregon to Robert Hodge Kirkwood and Hazel Marie (Tooley) Kirkwood. Walter joins God, in His Great Kingdom of Heaven and is preceded in death by his parents, Robert H. and Hazel M. Kirkwood, brother Ross Kirkwood, sister Hazel Long, wife Helen, wife Diana, grandsons David McFalls and Brett Connor.
Walt was raised on the family farm in Skyline, Oregon with his siblings Ross, Hazel, and Elaine. He attended Skyline Grade School and Scappoose High School while working at the Shields Ranch. He married school mate Helen Jensen in 1955. They both worked a short time at Tektronix before opening Walt’s Construction in 1960. He built everything from foundations to cabinets. Walt could build just about anything.
In 1974 Walt and Helen relocated to Phoenix, Arizona where they built their lives and their business, KirkWOOD Shutters. It was the first wide-louvered shutter manufacturer in Phoenix. Walt insisted on building a superior product, and supporting customers with top notch customer service. Helen and Walt were married 45 Years, raised 5 children together. They had a vacation home in Rocky Point, Mexico, where they built and co-owned “The Reef” a popular bar on Sandy Beach, not far from their home.
Walt loved taking his boat out in Mexico and fishing for grouper and black sea bass. At a young age, Walt loved riding and racing motorcycles, with friends and family. He spent much of his time flat track and off-road racing in Oregon, Arizona and Mexico, including the Baja 500. He has survived multiple accidents and maintained a work hard, play harder attitude. Walt was a long standing member of the Mt. Scott Motor Cycle Club and sponsored many racers with the same passion he had for racing.
Walt also loved to travel and found himself back in Oregon, visiting family and friends, bird hunting and fishing, before settling in La Pine Oregon. He met Diana Hansen, and they were married in 2003. They purchased homes in Lake Havasu, Arizona and South Beach, Oregon as well as traveling the Southwest in their Monaco motor home.
Walt continued to live at South Beach, Oregon and Lake Havasu, Arizona after Diana passed in 2016 with his dog Spud. He enjoyed gardening, puttering around the house, watching old westerns, and enjoyed an occasional margarita on Fridays. He also loved exploring the mines in the hills around Havasu in his Polaris RZR.
He was baptized during a visit to Arizona, May 27, 2018 at Surprise Christian Church.
Walt is survived by his sister Elaine Evans, sister-in-law Elaine Kirkwood, Brother-in-law Bill Long, Children: Linda Berland, Diane & Ed Connor, Leanne & Stan Kudish, Kevin & Jennifer Kirkwood and Robert & Karen Kirkwood. Adam & Tara Gregory, Dave Gregory, 19 grandchildren, 21 great grand children, 5 great-great grand children and numerous nieces and nephews.
Walter Lee Kirkwood passed peacefully, surrounded by family on September 26, 2020 at Glenwood Memory Care in Vancouver, Washington, just 11 days shy of his 85 birthday after a valiant battle with cancer and dementia.
“He didn’t tell me how to live; he lived, and he let me watch him do it.” -Clarence Budington Kelland.
The Celebration of Life will be held for immediate family and friends (per Covid restrictions) at Skyline Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home on October 17, 2020 at 11 am. Live streaming will be available on: https://www.facebook.com/skylinememorialgardens/
In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Walt's name to:
Surprise Christian Church: www.surprise.church
Meals on Wheels: www.newportoregon.gov/dept/par/sc/mow.asp
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.skylinememorialgardens.com for the Kirkwood family.
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