Obituary of Richard W. Walkup

Lt. Col ret Richard ( Dick) Walkup, an officer and a true gentleman, passed away Aug. 22, 2013. A member of the Greatest Generation, he was a husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He was born on Oct. 9, 1916 in Fairfax, Missouri to Ralph and Florence Walkup. The family farmed the land many years, but later left farming during the depression. Richard attended and graduated from White Deer High School in Texas in 1933. He attended college at Northwest Missouri State until he joined the U.S. Army in 1940. He served his country in WWII in North Africa, Sicily, and Europe. He was awarded the Bronze Star for gallantry in combat while leading his bomb disposal unit. Richard also served in the Korean War and remained in the army as a career officer, retiring from the military in 1960. Later in life, he went back to college and graduated from the University of Wyoming, of which he held in the highest esteem, in 1977. He is survived by his loving wife Margaret, daughter Cindy ( Bill) Edmon, son Bruce (Carolyn) Walkup, stepdaughters Nancy ( Andy) Meyer and Karen Morell, grandchildren Amy ( Alex) Alexeev, Kate Burrows, and Marley Walkup, great-grandchildren AJ, Sophia, and Max. The family wishes to thank the staff at the Weatherly Inn for their warm support and care during his stay there. A funeral service will be held on Friday, August 30th at 11am at Piper Morley Funeral Home. He will be remembered for never speaking ill of others, and for his encouragement to the people in his life to act the same. In lieu of flowers, it is requested that in honor of his memory you perform an act of kindness in words or deeds for your family, friends or strangers.