Walter Joseph Spafford

Walter Spafford, 62, of Vancouver, Washington, passed away the morning of January 25, 2024 from the effects of early-onset dementia. He was born on September 2, 1961, in Berwyn, Illinois and lived in California and Arizona before settling with his family in Littleton, Colorado.

Walt graduated from Colorado State University with a degree in history and taught social studies for a period of time before moving to Portland to earn his Masters in Social Work from Portland State University. He worked in a variety of settings as a clinical social worker, ultimately starting a successful psychotherapy practice. For more than 30 years, he worked with individuals of all ages, families, and couples, gaining a reputation for his work with trauma survivors and first responders.

Walt met his wife Heidi during their freshman year in the dorm. They went on a single date that year and became an "official couple" three years later. Their children, Lillie and Ian, remember their dad as very active in their lives, with regular swimming at Northeast Community Center, playing soccer at the Madeleine turf field, and spending time "helping" him around his office on the weekends. He attended all of his kids' extracurricular events and they describe him as always being there for them.

The oldest of six brothers, Walt learned at an early age the value of service and caring for others. He coached Ian's youth soccer teams, baked bread for church communion, and taught Sunday school for many years at Augustana Lutheran Church.

Walt loved to cook and was known in his family for his famous "Daddy's vegetable soup" and "Daddy's bread and biscuits with honey." He was the official pie-maker for all holidays, showing his love for others through preparing food for them. Walt was very active and loved running, playing soccer, and golfing. He was proud to play in the Junior Olympic Soccer Trials as a 9th grader. In high school, he got a job at Cherry Hills Country Club for the 1978 US Open, with the express plan of meeting his golf idols. He went on to become a lifelong golfer himself, even scoring a few holes-in-one over the years. He enjoyed great camaraderie with his regular golf buddies, who made a concerted effort to get him out for a round of golf even as his disease progressed. He was an avid reader, practiced bonsai for many years, and had great interest in world religions, applying principles of Buddhism and Christianity in his everyday life.

Walt loved his family and his relationships with his close friends. He was kind, smart, an outstanding judge of character, possessed a subtle sense of humor, always took the high road, often put others before himself, and believed in the importance of service.

Walt showed immense grace during the progression of his illness, and although many parts of his mind and body succumbed to the disease, his beaming smile and gentle demeanor were present until the very end.

He is preceded in death by his mother, Janet Mahoney, his parents-in-law Bob and Norma Oswald, his brother-in-law Mike Oswald, sister in-law Deb Oswald, and grandnephew Landon Oswald. He is survived by his wife Heidi Spafford, his daughter Lillie, and her wife Adrienne, son Ian Spafford, father Fred Spafford, brothers Bill (Liz), Mike (Beth), John (Terri), Brian (Sara), and Drew Spafford, sister-in-law Kendra (Max) Garcia, and brother-in-law Rob (Marilyn) Oswald, and many nieces, nephews, and grand-niece and nephews. He is loved by many and is greatly missed.