Robert "Bob" Walters

Robert “Bob“ Walters, age 83, of West Branch, MI, died peacefully at home, surrounded by family, on Thursday, Sept 5, 2013, after a very brief illness. Bob was born in Flint, MI on February 28, 1930, to Adelore and Irene (Palm) Walters. He moved to West Branch as a young child and lived most of his life there. After serving in the US Navy, he returned and worked as a pulp wood hauler, owning his own trucking business eventually. For the past 20 years he has wintered in Englewood, Florida. Bob enjoyed playing cards--especially a game of Solitaire and a weekly card game of 65 with his friends in Florida, doing Sudoku puzzles, riding his bike, and traveling. He was a natural born “kidder” and pulled a few pranks right up to the end of his life. Bob married Joan Sharpe, who predeceased him in 1971, and together they had seven children. He is survived by six of them, Kathy (Wayne) Keith and Ann (Ron) Hodges of West Branch, Dick (Gail) Walters of Battle Creek, MI, Doug (Colleen London) of Bay City, MI, Joe (Kelley) Walters of Englewood, Fl, and Liz (Greg) Sirmeyer of Joelton, TN. A son, Jeff Walters, preceded Bob in death in 1982, as well as a sister, Barbara Burt, a brother, Richard Walters, and a great grandson, Ryan Keith. Also surviving Bob are 10 grandchildren, Kirsten Turner, Kim Keith, Ben Keith, Rondell Walters, Dakota Walters, Stacy Darrow, Jeff Hodges, Carly Walters, Kayla Mooney and Alyssa Sirmeyer, 2 step-grandsons, Patrick and Christopher Sanback, 12 great-grandchildren, and a step-great-granddaughter. Bob married Joan (Remilong) Hall in 1993. She survives him, as well as three step-children, Becky Robb of Tawas City, MI, Larry Hall of Lupton, MI, and Dan Hall of Williston, ND, and 6 step-grandchildren, Christopher and Nick Robb, Dan and Lisa Hall, and Lindsay and Sarah Hall and one step-great-grandson. Per Bob’s wishes, cremation has taken place and a private memorial service will be held at a later date. His remains will be buried in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery at that time. Bob’s family wishes to thank Hospice of Helping Hands, and especially his “little blonde” nurse, Barb, for the kind and compassionate care he received. Donations can be made in his honor to Hospice of Helping Hands, Inc., 335 E. Houghton Ave., West Branch, MI 48661.