Walter A. Rickey

1920 - 2010

Walter A. Rickey
5/8/1920 - 10/31/2010
A descendant of a pioneer Placer County family, Walter was born in Sacramento, California, May 8, 1920, passed away peacefully in his sleep in Roseville, California on October 31, 2010, joining his wife of 65 years, Doris. He was the father of Celia Sertich (Bob), Marcia Amant (George) and the late Allen Rickey. He is also survived by six grandchildren, and eight great-grand- children and will be missed by four nieces and a nephew.
Walter was a descendent of the pioneer Placer County family of Hiram Allen who established a ranch in south Placer in1863 later known as the Allen's District. This ranch remained in the family and Walter and his late wife, Doris owned the ranch since 1968. The Rickey Ranch was admitted to California's 100 Year Club (now California Agricultural heritage Club) in 1970.
Walt graduated from Roseville High School as class valedictorian in 1939. He attended Sacramento City College and earned an accounting degree, He worked as an auditor for the State of California Board of Equalization and retired in 1983 after 42 and one-half years of service. He was instrumental in implementing the first tax on cigarettes in California. He invested much of his time in civic activities. The list of service includes: Past President and fifty-year member of Roseville Rotary and multiple Paul Harris Fellow; Past President and charter member of the 20-30 Club; Board Member of the Roseville Chamber of Commerce; the Roseville High School Citizens Advisory Committee; Sierra College Advisory Committee on Vocation Education the Roseville Historical Society; SIRS; and Boy Scouts of America. Walt was an avid hunter, fisherman and master woodworker. Until his later years, he made several annual fishing trips with his fishing buddies to different corners of California and returned with a big catch for the family. In his retirement years he passionately pursued his woodworking. He made furniture and gifts for family and friends and created beautiful segmented bowls and vases for which he won several awards. He did this work to share with family and friends and never sold a single item, often using them as gifts. Because of his family history and continued interest in Placer County history, Walt was often asked to speak on the topic. He was a key contributor to "Trail to Rail" the history of Roseville.
The family asks that donations in his memory be made to the Walter and Doris Rickey Scholarship for Music and Art, RJHSD, 1750 Cirby Way, Roseville, CA 95661. A private family service was held on November 5, 2010.