WALTON, Raymond Eugene - b. December 21, 1933 - d. July 20, 2007

[Janet Harrington]

(Taken from the Flint Hills Express, July 25, 2007, page 3)

Raymond Eugene Walton was born Dec. 21, 1933, in Winfield, Kan.

His parents soon moved to Wichita and were divorced when he was very young.  They were very poor and his Mother had to go on "relief" so that he could have one hot meal a day at school.  After his Mother remarried, he learned the retail furniture business from his stepfather.

After graduating from Wichita East High in 1952 he briefly attended Wichta Unioversity before joining the Marine Corps.  He spent two of his three years active service in Japan with the Far East Command.  In 1955 he resumed classes at Wichita University, met and courted Winona Steele whom he married in 1956.

He held a variety of sales jobs, usually exceeding all previous sales records.  At one time he was the youngest Real Estate broker in the state of Kansas.

He daughter, Valarie, was born in 1958 and the family moved to southern California in 1965 where he joined General Telephone Directory company.  In 1972 the family returned to Wichita and founded Pennypower Shopping News.  After selling Pennypower in 1980 Ray devoted himself to the development of Flint Oak Ranch in eastern Kansas.  As Ray's dream of maintaining "good old-fashioned hunting" for future generations matured Flint Oak become known as America's Premier Hunting Resort.  After years of declining health, Ray sold Flint Oak in January of 2007 to assure that it could continue to serve its members and their guests.

Ray Walton passed away peacefully on July 20, 2007.  He leaves behind his wife, Winona, of Wichita; his daughter, Valarie Smiley, of Laguna Niguel, Calif., and two grandchildren, Jennifer and Jeremy Smiley, also of Laguna Niguel, plus numerous friends, business associates, and former employees.  He will be deeply missed.

Funeral services will be held Friday, July 27, at 10 a.m. at Eastminster Presbyterian Church, 1958 N. Webb Road, Wichita.  He will lie in state at Downing & Lahey Mortuary, 6555 East Central, commencing Tuesday evening.  Visitations with the family will be held at the mortuary Wednesday, July 25, from 6-8 p.m. and at the church Friday morning from 9-9:30 a.m.  Interment will be private.

Ray supported numerous charities through out his life and family encourages you to make a donation to a memorial of your choice in his memory.  Tributes may be sent to the family via www.dlwichita.com.