Wally

Wally

November 22, 2009

This morning as we opened and checked our e-mail we found a sobering e-mail from our dear friend Eddie Greer. She informed us that her husband and the friend of my youth, Wally, had passed away. As I read thoughts flooded my mind bringing with them memories of experiences ranging over fifty years. I thought of things when as young Aaronic Priesthood boys we shared many common experiences of growing up together. We had a strong Aaronic Priesthood group of boys in the ward I grew up in. What change a half century brings in our lives.

When we were teenagers we were immortal. Life was lived to it’s fullest with no thought that it might end for us some day. We played, studied, worked and worshipped together with a firm belief that nothing bad could happen to us let alone that we might not always be together. Life was carefree, happy, full of good things and meant to be enjoyed. Oh I don’t mean to say that it was without challenges, tears, sorrows and some regrets but over all life was carefree and good.

Thoughts ranged from scout outings, priesthood classes, church sports, road-shows, leaving and returning on missions, going to barber college together, cutting hair together in the same shop and fun days spent together with wives and children.

I remember a beautiful fall day, a beautiful fall day in Phoenix Arizona means it was cooler than mid summer furnace heat, and Wally, I and Russell Magnusson went to the state fair. We were teenagers and of the three I think I was the smallest and I weighted in at over 200 pounds. We climbed on board one of the rides. The ride consisted of a cab which was just large enough to hold the three of us. The cab was situated on the end of an arm extending from a middle point which had three other arms extending from it so they formed a circular pattern. This circle of four arms sat on the end of a longer arm which was a duplicate of the first only much larger of coarse. As the larger circle started to turn the smaller circles began to rotate also. As the large inner circle started going faster and faster the smaller outside circles also started circling faster and faster. The riders in the cabs at the end of the spokes of the outside circles were thrown to the outside of the cab with great force and only held in by the outside of the wall of the cab itself. This is a great ride for a guy to take his girl on and have her on the inside because it throws the girl right up against him so all he has to do is wrap his arm around her. It’s not the same however when you have three 200 plus pound fellows in the same cab. I was lucky enough to be on the inside but poor Russ was on the outside and received both my and Wally’s full weight, magnified by the centrifugal force of the ride. Poor Russ came out still weighing 200 pounds but he was six inches taller and went from a size 46 to a size 36 waist.

Wally and his wife Eddie filled a mission after their retirement, going to the family history center in Salt Lake City. His enthusiasm and excitement for their mission helped fuel Kay’s and my desire to fill a mission.

How quickly time flies by and before we know it morning has turned to the evening sunset. Wally, Russ and Tom Fulton all part of the immortal group of youth are now gone.

I think of Wally and fifty years of growth and development and he’s changing from a carefree, fun loving youth to a mature and dedicated grey whiskered Santa of a man, devoted to his wife, family, God and friends. I was privileged to witness his changing from a natural man to a spiritual man who loved God and who God loved.

Yes I will miss Wally. I am saddened by Wally’s death only because it means for a while we will be apart from one another but I know that because of the eternal sacrifice of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the day will come we will again in joy, laughter and excitement greet one another.

I say with Paul when he wrote to the Corinthians “ O death, where is they sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” Wally can say with Paul “I have fought the good fight”.

My dear friend Wally, may I say as the people here in Peru say – Hasta La Vista. Until we see each other again. Steve.