James P Walton Bayville, New Jersey Obituary

James P Walton

James “Jim” Praul Walton Sr. July 24, 1926 – March 25, 2020 James Praul Walton Sr. died peacefully at the age of 93. Jim was born in Bethpage, NY where he lived through the Great Depression and graduated from Farmingdale HS in 1944 at the height of World War II. He proudly served his country in the US Navy Air Corps as a radioman and then trained as a pilot. Following his military service, he studied Chemical Engineering and was an avid lacrosse player at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and graduated in 1951. He had a long and successful career in product and technical management, bringing technologically advanced materials to various industries and creating a multitude of groundbreaking products including development of the reinforced polyester resin hull for the Alcort Sunfish, launching the conversion of boat hulls from wood. He began his career at Uniroyal in Naugatuck, CT where he met the love of his life, Mary Cody, from Boston. He also worked for Marco Chemical, WR Grace, USX, Aristech and Mitsubishi. Mary and Jim were inseparable for over 66 years and enjoyed many years of traveling together in retirement. He was also very active: the annual ski trip with the “Connecticut gang” lasted more than 50 years as he hit the slopes well into his 80’s. He also enjoyed gardening, opera, biking, hiking, photography and sailing his homebuilt wooden catboat “Cat O’ Nine”, from their waterfront home on the Barnegat Bay. A warm and generous man with a great sense of humor, he was happiest when surrounded by family and friends. Jim was a spiritual man who was active in his church, including St. Paul’s Lutheran in Naugatuck, CT and most recently at the Village Lutheran Church in Lanoka Harbor. He is survived by his beloved wife of 66 years, Mary (Cody), his children James Jr., Thomas, Claire (Eve Waterfall), Daniel, Linda (Jeanne Daumen), Christopher (Beverly) and Maura, his grandchildren Elise, James III, Christopher II, Kathryn, Robert, Cody, Galen and Libby and his sister Lois. He was predeceased by his sister Gloria Enners and brother Harry Walton and his parents Harry and Kathryn (Howell) Walton. Arrangements are private and entrusted to the care of the Timothy E. Ryan Home for Funerals, 706 US Hwy 9, Bayville, NJ. A service will be scheduled at a later date to celebrate his life.
July 24, 1926 - March 25, 202007/24/192603/25/2020
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James “Jim” Praul Walton Sr. July 24, 1926 – March 25, 2020 James Praul Walton Sr. died peacefully at the age of 93. Jim was born in Bethpage, NY where he lived through the Great Depression and graduated from Farmingdale HS in 1944 at the height of World War II. He proudly served his country in the US Navy Air Corps as a radioman and then trained as a pilot. Following his military service, he studied Chemical Engineering and was an avid lacrosse player at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and graduated in 1951. He had a long and successful career in product and technical management, bringing technologically advanced materials to various industries and creating a multitude of groundbreaking products including development of the reinforced polyester resin hull for the Alcort Sunfish, launching the conversion of boat hulls from wood. He began his career at Uniroyal in Naugatuck, CT where he met the love of his life, Mary Cody, from Boston. He also worked for Marco Chemical, WR Grace, USX, Aristech and Mitsubishi. Mary and Jim were inseparable for over 66 years and enjoyed many years of traveling together in retirement. He was also very active: the annual ski trip with the “Connecticut gang” lasted more than 50 years as he hit the slopes well into his 80’s. He also enjoyed gardening, opera, biking, hiking, photography and sailing his homebuilt wooden catboat “Cat O’ Nine”, from their waterfront home on the Barnegat Bay. A warm and generous man with a great sense of humor, he was happiest when surrounded by family and friends. Jim was a spiritual man who was active in his church, including St. Paul’s Lutheran in Naugatuck, CT and most recently at the Village Lutheran Church in Lanoka Harbor. He is survived by his beloved wife of 66 years, Mary (Cody), his children James Jr., Thomas, Claire (Eve Waterfall), Daniel, Linda (Jeanne Daumen), Christopher (Beverly) and Maura, his grandchildren Elise, James III, Christopher II, Kathryn, Robert, Cody, Galen and Libby and his sister Lois. He was predeceased by his sister Gloria Enners and brother Harry Walton and his parents Harry and Kathryn (Howell) Walton. Arrangements are private and entrusted to the care of the Timothy E. Ryan Home for Funerals, 706 US Hwy 9, Bayville, NJ. A service will be scheduled at a later date to celebrate his life.

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