Bob Walters

Bob Walters DIMMITT-Bob Walters, 80, of Dimmitt passed away Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2014, in Olton. Mass of Christian burial will be Monday, Jan. 6, 2014, at the Immaculate Conception of Mary Catholic Church of Dimmitt at 10 a.m. with Bishop Patrick Zurek and Father Ken Keller as celebrants; burial will follow in West Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Dimmitt. Family and friend visitation will be Sunday evening from 5 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Arrangements are being handled by Colonial Funeral Home of Dimmitt. Bob Walters was born in Milwaukee, Wis., on May 7, 1933, to Fred and Margaret Walters. Upon high school graduation, Bob set out to begin a free life as a bedroll cowboy. During his time on the open range, he worked on numerous ranches from California, Idaho, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, including the RO Ranch, the Matador Ranch, the 6666 Ranch and the JA Ranch. Bob served in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1955. He first rode into Texas in 1957 and began his professional horseshoeing career in 1966, shoeing thousands of horses in the area until his retirement in 2009. Bob packed his bedroll for good when he married the love of his life, Darlene, on Nov. 3, 1996. Together they made a wonderful life in Dimmitt and were honored to receive Citizens through the Years in 2007. Bob enjoyed teaching Farrier clinics at Clarendon College and was inducted into the International Horseshoeing Hall of Fame in 2010. He spent his later years tending to flower gardens at the nursing home, Catholic Church, and Darlene's ranch house. Heaven gained the soul of this sweet man. He leaves behind a host of loving family and friends, and some stories only a true cowboy could tell. He is survived by his wife, Darlene Walters of Dimmitt; a son, Dud Wooten and Lynn Lyman of Dimmitt; two daughters, Joyce Bills and her husband Randy of Earth and Amy Longanecker and her husband Jameson of Sandpoint, Idaho; four sisters, Virginia Ackerman of Menomonee Falls, Wis.; Dolores Bree of Naperville, Ill.; twin sister, Margie Laskowski and her husband Harry of Wind Lake, Wis., and Joan Herburger of Oak Creek, Wis.; three brothers, Jim Walters and his wife Ann of Menomonee Falls, Wis.; Fred Walters and his wife Shirley of Dunnellon, Fla., and Dennis Walters and his wife Janie of Palm Harbor, Fla; eight grandchildren, Jason Wooten and his wife Carla, Rusty Wooten and his wife Michelle, Katie Ray and her husband Derek, Bruce Bills, Curt Bills and his wife Shelley, Jett, Kai and Pax Longanecker; five great-grandchildren Anna and Audrey Wooten, Kirby Wooten, and Michael and Meredith Ray. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother. Memorials can be made to the Immaculate Conception of Mary Catholic Church of Dimmitt, 1001 W. Halsell, Dimmitt, TX 79027 or to the Running Water Draw Care Center, 800 W. 13th Street, Olton, TX 79064. You may go online and sign the guestbook at www.colonialfuneralhome.org.