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Walton, Thomas O.

April 17, 1941 –
 July 3, 2017

Obituary

Thomas Owen Walton, 76,  beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend passed away peacefully at home on Monday, July 3, 2017 surrounded by loved ones. Visitation – 6-8 pm. Thursday, August 3 at CrossPoint Church of Christ, 3020 Bardin Road, Grand Prairie, Texas. Memorial/Celebration of Life – 2 pm. Friday, August 4, 2017 at CrossPoint, Ministering the service will be Tim Hall. Thomas was born April 17, 1941 in Sallisaw, Oklahoma. His family moved to Madill, Oklahoma where Tom went on to become a star athlete and scholar, graduating from Madill High School in 1959. Tom attended The University of Oklahoma, enjoyed a successful baseball career, earned Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Education, and married the love of his life Patricia. Tom was so proud of his years at OU. He was never seen without his crimson and gold letterman’s ring! After college, Tom devoted his life and talents to a nearly 40 year career in teaching and coaching in which he made a tremendous impact on many young lives both inside and outside of the classroom. Tom experienced many highs and lows in his coaching career, but one particularly sweet high was winning the 1972 State 3A Championship in baseball with the Ardmore Tigers. He later enjoyed many football playoff wins with the Grand Prairie Gophers as well. Tom was a man of quiet confidence, humility, humor, fearlessness, honesty, honor, and faith. Tom was devoted to his wife and daughters, his five grandchildren, his sister and brothers, his church family, and was known as a loyal and trusted friend. Tom enjoyed many hobbies and projects after retirement, and especially loved the camaraderie and friendships formed through his Ford V-8 Club membership and while working for the Texas Rangers every summer. A special quote kept at his desk and viewed every day sums up the very essence of Thomas Owen Walton: “When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would have not a single bit of talent left, and could say, I USED EVERYTHING YOU GAVE ME.” Tom accomplished that and more in a life well-lived. Tom will be sorely missed. Tom is survived by his wife of 55 years, Patricia; daughters, Dana Fore and husband Troy, Keri Gilbreath and husband Chris; grandchildren, Troy III and India Fore, Gunnar, Boone, and Tripp Gilbreath; sister, Jeanne Sloan and husband Doug; brothers, Bill and Jim Walton; sisters-in-law, Joyce Zorba, Vicki Crowston and husband Ed; nieces, Jill Dighton, Courtney Wilkinson, Allison Crowston, Becky Ballinger, Janet Warren, and Holly Cooney; nephews, Chad Zorba, Doug  Sloan, Jr. and Jeff Walton; and many lifelong and dear friends. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Tom’s name to CrossPoint Church of Christ Building Fund or a charity of your choice.       Please send the family condolences and sign the guest book on this site. Arrangements are under the direction of: Aria Cremation Service & Funeral Home 1820 N. Belt Line Road Irving, Texas 75061 972-607-4400

    Caryn Burgess
    10 Jul 2017
    11:31am

    Thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

    Brunswick Morton
    10 Jul 2017
    11:47am

    My condolences go out to the Walton Family. Coach Walton was one of my coaches from my memorable senior year on the Grand Prairie High Gopher football team. Additionally, he also taught my son at Adams Middle School.

    He and his family are in our prayers.

    Brunswick O. Morton
    Grand Prairie High Class of 1976

    Ed Beasley
    10 Jul 2017
    12:26pm

    Tommy was one of a kind and a dear, dear friend. I will miss him and all hes wonderful detailed stories of our childhood. My deepest sympathy to Pat and all the Walton family.

    Donald Green Koonce
    10 Jul 2017
    3:18pm

    RIP coach Walton remembered but not forgotten …prayers to the families.

    Liisa Arjanen McCOy
    10 Jul 2017
    6:06pm

    My most sincere condolences to the Walton family. Coach Walton was not only an amazing coach and teacher, but a genuine caring man. I was so grateful to have known him. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.

    Williams Family
    11 Jul 2017
    11:27am

    Condolences to the Walton family. Our thoughts and prayers go out to your whole family. Psalms 147:3 says God, “heals the broken hearted, and binds up their wounds.” May God bring you comfort and peace.

    Charlene Gilliam
    19 Jul 2017
    3:10pm

    Pat, you and the girls all know how much I loved Tom and how much he meant to us. I can still hear him say he had to get home and didn’t have time to come by after church, but we always managed to visit until midnight.

    Gary Mills
    19 Jul 2017
    4:41pm

    My deepest sympathy

    Murray Family
    31 Jul 2017
    3:57am

    Our deepest and sincere condolences go out to the Walton family. It was a honor and blessing to have known Coach Walton. My dad loved and respected him so much and shared many great stories about their years coaching together. Coach Walton touched so many lives! Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.

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"Nothing prepares you for the grief you go through when losing a child. I called this funeral home at 2:00 am broken and could barely talk. The amount of compassion and empathy they showed me immediately let me know I found the right place to cremate my son. I cannot thank them enough for their professionalism, SINCERE concern, and commitment to making sure my son was honored in the most respectful way. I hope this Funeral home values her as much as my family and I do."
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"On behalf of my family, I wanted you to know how much we appreciate your handling of my husband's final arrangements. Wayne Baxter assisted & guided us through the entire process with such care & compassion. Don't know what we would have done without him! Sincerely, Colleen Elledge"
The Peterson Family
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"I can’t say enough about how helpful and professional Dusty Martin, the funeral director at the Aria Cremation location on NW Highway has been. From my initial call, he was kind and informative. My friend died at home while on hospice and she was picked up in about an hour after receiving the call from the hospice nurse. The person who arrived to pick her up was also very professional/respectful and allowed us to take as much time with her as we wished. When I met with Dusty the next day about arrangements, he explained the process and options available without being pushy or trying to “sell” extras. Throughout the process, he kept me informed and, for example, was careful to be certain I understood the cost of the obituary I wanted and offered some options for reducing that cost if I wished. When I stopped by for another reason and started talking about some of the problems I was having with the pictures and media I hoped to use at a memorial lunch I was planning, he not only listened patiently but offered technology advice and let me use his personal media player. I have had experience arranging cremations for four others using two other local companies, and this experience with Dusty at Aria has been by far the best one I have had."
Paula Barnes
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"My Daddy’s service and our family experience at Aria Northwest Highway was truly blessed. Funeral Director Dustin Martin is the kind of person that you would like to see on a more regular basis – but in his industry – you hope to not see him that often. That being said – THANK YOU DUSTIN for your unending kindness, compassion and friendship through the process. Meeting you and discussing Dallas History, Find A Grave and my Dad’s lifelong contributions to the great City of Dallas was simply wonderful! In memory of my dad James A. Dodd, Sr. – I want to personally thank you and let you know that you made everything better in that moment. Your calling to “Be There” is spot on. Aria has a one in a million guy in you! Bling Blinky of TEXAS Shout Out: God Bless You!!"
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