John William Walthall

John W. Walthall, 84, of Coleman, died Sunday, November 16, 2014 at Coleman County Medical Center. Funeral service will be 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 18, 2014 at Stevens Funeral Home Chapel, 400 West Pecan Street, Coleman, with Richard Hetzel officiating, assisted by Dr. Don Northway. Burial will follow in the White Chapel Cemetery, under the direction of Stevens Funeral Home.

John was born March 23, 1930, the only child of M.G. Walthall and Inez Parker Walthall at White Chapel on the farm owned by his grandparents. He spent much of his childhood in White Chapel and with his grandparents. Later in life, he and Nell purchased the home and farm from his grandparents and lived there for 62 years. John and Nell celebrated 64 years of marriage this past August.

John was a graduate of Coleman High School in 1947 where he served as a yell leader for the 1946 Regional Football Championship Bluecat team. John worked for the Texas Highway Department. as an engineering technician for 38 years, retiring in February of 1987. After retirement, he spent many hours, a lot of energy, and his carpentry and accounting skills helping with the various retail businesses owned by Nell, him and their family. He designed and built the gazebo that stands on the lot at the corner of Pecan and Commercial in Coleman and landscaped the lots on which it stands. John and Nell's family was given a Downtown Coleman Beautification Award for these projects in March of 1992. John served on various boards throughout the years: Talpa Centennial School Board, Coleman Special Utility District Board for 20 years, Coleman Rodeo Association and Holiday Hill Board. He was always willing to help anyone with any project that would help Coleman County.

If you ask most anyone, there wasn't much that John couldn't do. He built buildings, roads and bridges; created metal-work pieces of art, etched glass, and generally could do anything he set his mind to. He and Nell helped remodel nearly every house any of his kids and grandkids have ever lived in! Daddy was soft spoken yet stern when needed, had a dry sense of humor - which came in handy while raising three girls - and in the eyes of his daughters, Daddy could do anything and everything!

Over the past several years, John has enjoyed the company of many friends at the DQ Coffee Club, the Downtown Men's Sunday School Class, and the 42 and Bridge Clubs he and Nell were a part of. He was a man of exceptional character and a loving husband, father, and grandfather. He will be missed by so many and was loved by so many. He is now rejoicing in heaven with his daughter Debbie and many other loved ones.

Survivors include his wife, Nell Walthall of Coleman; two daughters and sons-in-law, Denise and Jerry McDonald of Lake Ivie, Diana and Les Dobbins of White Chapel; eight grandchildren, Terra Gates Corrigan; Jacy Sol-Walthall Gates and wife Tracy; Logan McDonald and wife Natalie; Justin Parker Gates and wife Brittany; Lindsey McDonald Diaz and husband Daniel; Aaron Dobbins and fiance' Casey; Serena Gates Sepeda and husband Josh; Adam William Dobbins and wife Chazman; 10 great grandchildren, Josh Corrigan, Sunny Seyda, Joel Scott, Coralynn Gates, Reid William Gates, Lila Gates, Luke McDonald, Brandon Diaz, Paxton Sepeda, Olivia Sepeda. Also surviving is a special cousin, Gayle Baumgardner and husband, Charles and a great niece, Shannon Baumgarder.

He was preceded in death a daughter, Deborah Lynn Gates on May 4, 2008.

Family visitation will be from 6:00 p.m. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, November 17, 2014 at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made the donor's favorite charity.

Please sign his online guestbook at www.livingmemorials.com.