Glen Walters - Oregon 1925-2010

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Walters, Glenn Allen 84 06/06/1925 03/22/2010 Glenn Allen Walters, 84, a longtime resident of the Hillsboro and Cornelius communities and of late, the Sherwood community, died Monday, March 22, 2010, at Providence Newberg Medical Center in Newberg. A celebration of Glenn's life will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday, March 27, 2010, in Forest Grove Spanish Seventh-day Adventist Church and Media Center in Forest Grove, with Pastor Glen Gessele officiating. A reception will follow the service in the fellowship hall of the church. A private family graveside service will be held in Fir Lawn Cemetery on Friday, March 26, 2010.

Glenn Allen Walters was born June 6, 1925, in Portland, to Fred and Amelia (Dick) Walters. Glenn attended Laurelwood Academy and later attended Walla Walla College. As a young man, he worked at the Portland Shipyards for a short time before joining the U.S. Navy during World War II where he served as a medic in Adak, Alaska, assisting with autopsies for most of his time before he was honorably discharged. On Feb. 21, 1948, he married Viola Ruth Dodge in Hillsboro; they just celebrated 62 years of marriage together this last February. After their marriage they made their home in Hillsboro on Minter Bridge Road for many years. Upon discharge from the Navy, Glenn returned to Hillsboro and went to work for George Teufel's Holly Farm where he worked for 12 years learning the nursery business. On the weekends Glenn and Viola started building their first greenhouse and worked towards developing their own nursery business. Glenn told Viola that if she would take care of the propagation of the new plants that he would be sure to sell everything she grew. That was the beginning of the Glenn Walters Nursery that eventually grew to over 1,200 acres in 15 locations in Washington County.

Glenn had been a major donor to various Washington County charity programs, including the Tuality Community Hospital Medical Foundation that helped complete the Tuality Health Education Center. He and Viola also donated the required funds needed to purchase the Trinity Lutheran Church in Hillsboro that became the Glenn and Viola Walters Arts and Cultural Center. He and Viola have been involved in the building or remodeling of eight different churches in Oregon. Glenn and Viola also started the Walters Family Foundation that provides funding for many charitable causes in Oregon as well as international needs. Glenn enjoyed traveling to Mexico for marlin fishing as well as listening to organ music. Glenn was well-known for his many stories and great sense of humor. Survivors include his beloved wife, Viola Ruth Walters of Sherwood; daughter and son-in-law, Shirley and Jim Leek of Sherwood; and son and daughter-in-law, Cliff and Carmen Walters of Redlands, Calif.; brother and sister-in-law, Dean and Maggie Walters of Hillsboro; and sister and brother-in-law, Betty and Elmer Unterseher of Forest Grove. Glenn is also survived by nine grandchildren, Jamie DeAnne Ali, Chad Walters, Mindy Walters and Dustin, Trevor, Griffin, Nathan, Aaron and Dylan Leek; and two great-grandchildren, Kai Noa and Makena Ali. To sign the online guest book, or to send the family a condolence, go to www.fuitenrosehoyt.com. Fuiten, Rose & Hoyt Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements; 503-357-2161.