Robert Edward Walton

Robert Edward Walton was welcomed home into the arms of our blessed Father on March 23, 2016. His loving family kept him at home until the last day. We cared for him so he could stay with his devoted and loving wife of 75 years. He was surrounded by his loving family when he left this earthly world for Heaven.

Robert was born in St. Paul, Minnesota on January 10th, 1921 to loving parents Stanley and Emily.

He was very active with the Boy Scouts of America, eventually becoming an Eagle Scout while in high school. He went on to attend the University of Minnesota where he was a ranking officer in the ROTC. While attending school he was employed by both Armour and Swift meat packing plants in the South St. Paul stockyards. He left school in 1942 and joined the Army, 76th division, 385th Infantry Battalion, as a Headquarters Officer.

He served in the European Theatre, including the Ardennes, Central Europe, Rhineland and the infamous Siegfried line and Battle of the Bulge. He received the Bronze star and his unit the Presidential Unit Citation. Following WWII he returned to the University of Minnesota and received his degree. He then entered the Federal Bureau of Investigation as a special agent. He subsequently served in various field offices including Quantico Virginia, Detroit Michigan, St. Louis Missouri, Chicago Illinois, Galveston Texas, St. Paul/Minneapolis and finally in 1956 as a senior special resident agent in Duluth. He was recruited for jobs in much larger cities, but Duluth offered the fishing and hunting which was as much a part of his being as breathing. Much of his assignment in Duluth related to cooperative investigations with Canadian authorities in Canada. His assignments were throughout northeastern Minnesota up to the Canadian border.

He was very involved in the infamous Virginia Piper kidnapping as well as the notable Wounded Knee case on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota.

He married his longtime sweetheart and love of his life, Dorothy Anderson of St. Paul, on June 12th, 1943. His nickname for her was “Red” as she had the most beautiful red hair he said he had ever seen. They had 4 wonderful and devoted children. Robert Scott (died at age 39 in a motorcycle accident in Glacier Park, Montana), Catherine Elizabeth (Randy) Sylvester of Duluth, their daughter Shayna (Shaun) Ross and their 2 children Amalia and Aiden, daughter Christina Maria Furo of Duluth and Daughter Jennifer Ann (Tom) Thackery of Mahtowa.

He was proud to be a member of Holy Rosary church for over 60 years. He devoted many years in service to his church. In later years, dad was very active as a bridge player and proud to be with the senior men’s curling club in Duluth for many years. He was also an addicted golfer, bowler and loved to play racketball. Dad was totally committed to numerous hunting and fishing activities throughout Minnesota and Canada. The BWCA was one of his favorite places to be and he and his wife and family enjoyed many trips there. He and “Red” even spent their honeymoon on Gunflint Lake. He will be missed terribly by those that survive him.

He was the most loving and giving father and husband. His job took a lot out of him but when he came home from work he always had time to shoot baskets or play baseball or tennis. He loved showing us how to use a bow and arrow and how to fish. We spent so many wonderful times at the family cabin on Whiteface Lake. He helped us learn to swim and waterski and catch fire flies. He would shoot fireworks off the dock on the 4th of July. Dad gave us our love of the outdoors. If you had a problem of any kind you always knew dad would take care of it and make everything ok. He was always a father first. There was nobody who loved his wife and kids more than he did. He may be gone but he will live in our hearts forever, just a heartbeat away. He will continue to love us and guide us from above. Dad, your unfailing love was always our greatest gift. Thank you!

Your spirit and honor will live on in your children, your granddaughter, your great granddaughter and great grandson. Besides his loving wife Dorothy, and his children, he is survived by his sister Marion of Eagan and many dear and treasured relatives in the St. Paul/Minneapolis area.

We will miss you dad, every second of every day. We love you.