Beverly Walter

Beverly Walter

August 27, 1932 - July 4, 2025

Lompoc - Beverly Jean Walter (née Chandler) of Solvang, CA passed away on July 4, 2025 at the age of 92. She was born in Tustin, CA on August 27, 1932. Her husband Alfred preceded her in death, along with her mother Connie Claire Walter; her father George Earnest Walter; her eight siblings to include sisters Alice, Dorothy, Carol, and brother Arthur; plus the many dogs and horses that she raised over the years.

In 1977, Bev married Alfred Walter, who was a church elder and loved the Lord as much as Bev did, and together they relocated to the Santa Ynez Valley in 1981 after losing their ranch in an arson fire in Riverside County, CA.

She was deeply religious and was a member of several churches in the Santa Ynez Valley, including the SYV Presbyterian Church, the Ranch Church, and most recently the First Baptist Church of Solvang, where she visited Pastor Bob Rush.

Bev worked on ranches most of her life as a cowboy, doing the same work as her male contemporaries, which included branding, roping and hauling horses and cattle, and building fences as needed. She would correct those who referred to her as a cowgirl, often working harder than the men on the ranch to show that she was their equal or better.

Her tomboyish look at a young age garnered attention from film executives, and though Bev preferred to be a cowboy, she was in many films and commercials, most notably "Of Mice and Men" and "The Last Cowboy", as well as being featured on national billboards for Bank of America in the early 1990s. She was great friends with Montie Montana, but also befriended stars like Gene Autry and Roy Rogers during her work in film. Bev has also appeared at many local events driving a horse drawn carriage such as Old Santa Ynez Days, Old Spanish Days/Fiesta Week, and even drove carriages at Neverland Ranch for Michael Jackson.

Her talents extended to a passion for the arts, to include illustrations of western landscapes, as well as a unique style of highly detailed painting on large leather hides using dyes. She was self-taught, and continued to draw and paint well into her eighties. Not only was she an artist, but also the subject of other artists who wanted to capture her spirit in their own works.

Though Bev was a resident of Santa Ynez for many years, she lived in Lompoc, CA at the time of her passing. Bev will forever remain in the hearts of so many who knew her, both near and far.

Please join us in celebrating Bev's legacy at the Solvang First Baptist Church on July 25th, 2025 at 3pm, with reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Santa Ynez Humane Society, the Santa Ynez Presbyterian Church, the Ranch Church in Buellton, or the Solvang First Baptist Church.