Wally passed away on November 18, 2002. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Marian. He grew up in the northwest and served in the Army with the Corps of Engineers in the Philippines and Okinawa during World War II.

After the war, Wally joined the smokejumpers and fought forest fires for eight summers. He jumped at Missoula, 1947-51, 55, 57, and Grangeville in 1952. He graduated from the University of Montana in 1952 and was recruited by the CIA on a project in Taiwan.

In 1969, Wally returned to his passion for teaching and coaching at Marana Public Schools, where he remained until his retirement in 1987.