May 26, 1929 - January 28, 2011

One of the first in line to walk across the Golden Gate Bridge...

Walter J Carroll passed away January 28, 2011 at the age of 81. Born May 26, 1929 in San Francisco, California, Walter’s younger years were spent playing street hockey, football and basketball in the city. His first job was selling magazines for 20¢ a week which he described in his writings as, “Big Time”. A day after his 8th birthday, May 27, 1937, young Walter was one of the first in line to walk across the Golden Gate Bridge when the ribbon was cut opening the bridge to pedestrian traffic. At the age of twelve, Walter moved north across the Golden Gate to Marin County with his parents, Walter Sr. and Estelle, and younger brother Bill where they bought a house in the town of Ross. There he joined the Boy Scouts of America, which became his lifelong passion and where he earned his Eagle Scout. Inspired by the 1939 San Francisco World’s Fair, Walter dreamt of traveling the world. However, it wasn’t until his college years that he was able make his first forays, while working on oil tankers that sailed from San Francisco to Alaska and Hawaii. After graduating from the University of California at Berkley where he was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity and the US Navy Reserve, he was called to serve in the US Navy’s Pacific Fleet and was stationed in Japan during the Korean Conflict. Returning to San Francisco he began a long career at the Standard Oil Co. of California (Chevron). Also at this time Walter met and married Margaret Patterson of Caldwell Wisconsin who was living and working in San Francisco as a nurse and together they had 5 children. They moved to Seattle in 1964 where Walter became Chevron’s special products representative for the Pacific Northwest region. Between work and raising children Walter volunteered for various organizations, including his church, CYO basketball and Boy Scout Troop 309. From an early age with the Boy Scouts, Walter was an avid outdoorsman who shared and passed along his enthusiasm for hiking, fishing, golfing, skiing and swimming to his family, friends and grandchildren. Scout camp and summer 50 mile hikes were annual experiences he shared with his oldest son and hundreds of boys. In retirement, Walter and Margaret traveled the world, skiing, sightseeing and making many friends. Walter is survived by his wife Margaret and three children along with five grandchildren.

DONATIONS

Walter was an active member of Boy Scout Troop 309 from the time he moved to Seattle until his death. He also served as Scout Master for a number of years. A Boy Scout campership fund has been established in Walter’s name to help send kids to camp. Please consider a donation. Send checks to BSA Troop 309, PO Box 160, Monroe, WA 98272 or send credit card payment through paypal to raysayah@gmail.com.

Memorial

Just as the Wave Cannot Exist

Just as the wave cannot exist for itself, but is ever a part of the heaving surface of the ocean, so must I never live my life for itself, but always in the experience which is going on around me. It is an uncomfortable doctrine which the true ethics whisper into my ear. You are happy, they say; therefore you are called upon to give much.

Albert Schweitzer

Looking into the portals of eternity

Looking into the portals of eternity teaches that the brotherhood of man is inspired by God's word; Then all prejudice of race vanishes away.

George Washington