Milton Othell Walden, 87, of Beaumont, saw the end of his day July 21, 2010, at his home.
He is preceded in death by his parents and eight siblings. He is survived by his wife of sixty-six years, Alice Walden; his six children, Milton Othell Walden, II and his wife Irene of Vidor, Gerald Lynn Walden, Sr. and his wife Brenda of Kountze, Michael Ray Walden and his wife Debbie of Kountze, Marie Isabella Westmoreland and her husband Keith of Vidor, Gregory Dean Walden and his wife Kim of LaCoste, Brian Keith Walden and his wife Linda of Lumberton, Louise Townsend and her husband Don of San Angelo; fifteen grandchildren and twenty-four great-grandchildren.
Milton went by numerous titles. He was known as “Honey” by his wife, “Daddy” by his children, and “Papa” or “Grandpa” by his grandchildren. He was known as “Countryman” for his participation in the United States Navy. His classification was 1st Class Petty Officer-Carpenter’s Mate. From this title came the title of a “Seabee”. He was a member of the 14th Naval Construction Battalion. If anything, he was a man of honor and integrity. When he stood for something, there was no swaying the strong beliefs he upheld. He drove a van for the D.A.V., as a volunteer, and when he was no longer able to do that, he was a member of the V.F.W. #8246. He had other titles as well, one as a worker as the Corp. of Engineers in the CC Camps, and another as an auto service technician or “body man” and from that came the handle “Fender Bender”.
Milton, or Papa, as he came to be by his family, was a just man. It is said by his children that he “demanded respect, and he got respect”. He worked for his family and sometimes with them. From time to time, he and one of his sons worked at the same place of employment. His reputation was impeccable and if for some reason his son was let go unjustly, he would pack up his tools and leave too. He taught his family courage, even if that meant they had to go off to earn a living for their family. As honorable of a man as he was, he was a tough man. When the military called, not him, but his sons, he answered that call by driving them to the station. When his wife was crying openly at one of her son’s departure, he looked at her and said “You don’t need to do that in front of him.” Then he turned to that son and told him, “Be tough.” When age got his body down, he had a resolve, never showing his pain.
As tough as he could be, he could also be tender. When his little girl sat on his lap, he told her she would never be too big, as she wasn’t. At his oldest grandson’s telling him “I love you”, he would say, “I do you too”. When he gave one of his granddaughters $10 just a few days before his death, she asked him, “What’s this for? I didn’t do anything?” His reply was “That’s just for being you”. There also wasn’t one of his grandchildren that he didn’t ride around “the pasture” on “that old tractor”.
Papa was happy with simple pleasures in life. No trip was too long, no ride was too rough, and no family was too annoying. Just give him some Old Fashioned Crème Drops or a slice of lemon pie, and his was thrilled. In fact, he liked his sweet treats so much, that he was known to “cut a ruckus” if someone ate his lemon pie by mistake, and there were also those sneaky moments with his baby boy as they shared a large ice cream at the local DQ while waiting to take supper back to Grandma.
Papa left a stronger legacy than any penny could buy; the legacy of hard work and honesty, and dominoes. He loved dominoes, brought a whole new meaning to the word “tailgating”, was quite the joker and the only time he didn’t like the South, was when Grandma was winning. He was a MIGHTY man.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m., Saturday, July 24, 2010, at Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church, Beaumont, with burial to follow at Hillebrandt Cemetery in LaBelle, under the direction of Broussard’s. A Rosary will be recited at 6:00 p.m., Friday, July 24, 2010, at Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin Avenue.
Memorial contributions may be made to Disabled Veterans of America, 3725 Alexandria Pike, Cold Springs, Kentucky, 41076.
