Walton E. Bedinger Jr 1919 - 2018

BEDINGER, VAN DEVANDER, HIPSON

Posted By: Connie Swearingen -Volunteer (email)
Date: 11/7/2018 at 19:45:28

Sioux City Journal
10 September 2018

Estes Park, Colo., formerly Sioux City

Walton E. Bedinger Jr., 98, of Estes Park, formerly Sioux City, passed away Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018.

Memorial services will be 2 p.m. Thursday, April 25, 2019, at the Presbyterian Community Church of the Rockies, 1700 Brodie Ave., Estes Park, Colo. Arrangements are under the direction of Allnut Funeral Service-Estes Park Chapel. Visit www.allnutt.com to leave a message for the family.

Walton was born in Atlanta, Ga., on Dec. 6, 1919, to Belle (Van Devander) and Walton E. Bedinger Sr., whose career with the railroad took the family, including sister, Louise, to numerous locations throughout the deep south. He graduated from high school in Savannah, Ga. There he was active in ROTC and the Boy Scouts and became an Eagle Scout. Walt continued with ROTC while attending The Georgia Institute of Technology where he was a member of Chi Psi fraternity.

A week after his graduation in 1941, with a degree in civil engineering and a commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Corps, Walt married Jeanne Hipson. He was soon called to active duty. His military service during World War II took him to Mobile, Ala.; Trinidad B.W.I; Kelly Field in San Antonio, Texas; and Guam.

After World War II, Walt and his growing family lived in Atlanta, before moving to Sioux City, Iowa, where he became a partner in and later sole owner of Hobe Engineering Corp. He was president of that company until 1981. He also formed the Elk Horn Construction Company in 1970. Both companies specialized in bridge construction. While he was in the construction business, he became a member of the Associated General Contractors of America Chapters of America in Nebraska, South Dakota, and Iowa, through which he elevated to the position of president of the Iowa branch. He was also a member of the Omaha Heavy and Highway Contractors Association.

Walt earned his private pilot’s license and flew for business before retirement in 1981. He flew charter flights and air ambulance flights after his retirement from the construction industry. A member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, the EEA, and the United Flying Octogenarians, he and Jeanne enjoyed personal flying for several more years.

In 1986, Walt and Jeanne moved to Estes Park, where they lived until moving to Greeley in 2000.

Walt was active in the First Presbyterian Church in Sioux City for four decades. In Estes Park, he was a member of The Community Presbyterian Church. He was also a member of Sioux City’s Sertoma Club. In Estes Park, he was on the board of directors of the Upper Thompson Sanitation District. He was a member of Rotary International in Estes Park and Greeley.

He is survived by his sons, Walt (Eileen) of Greeley, Colo., and Phil (Traci) of Sioux Falls, S.D.; daughter, Kathy McDougal (James) of Tucson, Ariz.; seven grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren.

Walton is preceded in death by his wife, Jeanne; parents; and sister, Louise.

He was a good dad, a good man, and a good person.