Edward Carrey Walthall

Edward Carrey Walthall, Jr., was born October 26, 1927 in Grand Island, Nebraska, to Edward C. and Marie (Cade) Walthall. An only child, his youth was spent in Nebraska during the school year, and in Watauga, Texas, his mother’s home, during summer breaks. Even before graduating high school, Ed was fascinated with the news media and did some part time reporting for United Press International (UPI). While attending Hastings College in Hastings, Nebraska, he was editor of The Collegian, the college newspaper.

Ed began his newspaper career as a beat reporter for the Fairbury Daily News in Fairbury, Nebraska in 1947. While there, he met Marion Stafford, the secretary in the Fairbury City Engineer’s office. They were married six months later, on April 18, 1948, and moved to Grand Island, Nebraska, where he was a reporter and then Assistant Advertising Manager for The Grand Island Daily Independent. Ed and Marion celebrated their 65th Wedding Anniversary on April 18, 2013.

His newspaper career took them to Texas, Kansas, Alabama, Louisiana, Massachusetts and Florida, as he worked his way from reporter, to advertising executive, to editor, then to publisher, working for some of the largest publishing companies in the country, including Thomson Newspapers, Inc. and Southern Newspapers, Inc. While in Florida, he was executive vice-president and publisher of a six-newspaper group owned by The New York Times.

Colorado beckoned, and in 1974 Walthall moved to Grand Junction, where he was Corporate Development Director and then Associate Publisher of The Daily Sentinel.

Reorganization at the Sentinel in 1976 brought about a relocation to Durango, and then to Fresno, California. Returning to Grand Junction in 1981, he became National Co-op Advertising Director for The Daily Sentinel. He remained in that position until his retirement in 1992.

Ed had a tender heart for animals, especially dogs, and loved nature. His hobbies included reading and enjoying people. He was a long-time member of the Rotary Club, both in Grand Junction and elsewhere, and was a charter member of Redlands United Methodist Church.

Surviving are his wife, Marion; daughters Marcia Ottie (Steve), Atlantic Beach, FL; Karen Thomasson, Grand Junction; a son, Jeff Walthall, Greeley, CO; grandsons Steve Ottie (Amanda), Jacksonville, FL; and Jason Ottie (Jessica), Waynesville, NC; and six great-grandchildren: Jonah, Julia, Lorelei, Mateo, Noah and Grace. He also leaves his adored “grand-dog”, Opie.