WALTON Harry Thomas Walton passed away peacefully at the Red Deer Regional Hospital on Sunday, October 9, 2005 after a brief illness. Harry is survived by his loving wife Sheila and her children; Richard, Nigel and Jacqui (Sandy). Harry will be missed and forever loved by his children, Antoinette, Susan, Brian (Jean), Kathy (Scott), Deb (David), and Yvonne (Dale). Grandpa was loved and cherished by his 25 grandchildren and 2 great grand daughters. Harry is also survived by one brother, Bob (Bertha) Willoughby and Sheila's brother Billy (Marlene) Thomson and respective families. Harry was born November 23, 1932 in Edmonton, Alberta. He was raised on the family farm and took his schooling in Kitscoty, Alberta. Harry often told his family about his life on the farm, working hard, being hungry in the dirty 30's, cross country skiing early on winter mornings to light the wood fire in the one room school house for a little pocket money each week. At the young age of 14 Harry started working on the rigs that were setting up in the fields close to the farm. Carrying water and doing odd jobs at the rig sites at this young age was the start of a life long career in the oil field for Harry. After finishing school in Kitscoty, Harry's work in the oil field took him from the prairies of Saskatchewan and Alberta into Fort St. John, B.C. This is where he met and married his first wife Marie Sieben. Harry always wanted a large family and he believed in keeping his family by his side so wherever the rig went, Harry and Marie followed along with their quickly growing family. They were blessed with 9 children and all their children were born in different towns in Alberta with the exception of their set of twins. As they looped through the province of Alberta, to places too numerous to mention, Harry was soon working as a Rig Superintendent and was highly regarded in the oil field. In 1968 his work took him to Alaska and in 1969 was asked to move to Aberdeen, Scotland to manage the first offshore rig. The rig would become the first oil producing platform in the North Sea and as the Drilling Manager of this first oil tanked to shore he was honored with turning the valve along with the British Energy Minister. In 1969 Harry met Sheila Spence and the two of them became pioneers of the blended family. Harry and Sheila set up home in Aberdeen and raised their children together. Although there were some growing pains in blending the families and cultures together, they were more than made up for in the love and closeness Harry so intuitively cultivated between them all. Harry and Sheila traveled extensively with their children, they both loved to curl and made many bonspiel memories. Harry was the President of the Curling Association of Aberdeen and it was through this position he was introduced to Queen Elizabeth II at the grand opening of a new curling complex. This complex was built with money from the Association's fund raising efforts. Harry and Sheila stayed in Aberdeen until 1984 when they retired to Red Deer. They have made their home here ever since. They enjoyed their retirement traveling and camping in the motor home, gardening, and hosting the many family and friends that have come to stay with them in Red Deer. In his younger (and not so younger) days Harry could be boisterous and the life of the party. He had a sense of humor twisted with the right amount of sarcasm, and deftly delivered one-liners that would leave everyone laughing uproariously! He was a great cook and could often be found in front of the BBQ cooking up his family favorites. He threw fun parties with music, scotch on the rocks, dancing and singing into the wee hours. Other times he'd like to sit quietly and read. He was always sharing books with his children and the family would pass books to one another and then spend time discussing them. Conversations with Dad usually started with..."Have you read...?". Harry loved to do a crossword every day, coffee with his friends at the Arlington and play a mean game of crib. He loved all sports and especially loved watching his children and grandchildren participate in everything from ballet to soccer. Harry was the most loving and loyal husband, the greatest Dad and Grandpa, and the kindest friend. He was most definitely the one in charge, the master of his domain, and the captain of the Walton Fleet. He was a good honest man and will be missed by all who love him. Harry was predeceased by his eldest son Tom (2003), and infant sons Wade Anthony (1962) and Harry James (1967). His Mom, Muriel Potter, also predeceased Harry in 1975. A funeral service for the Late Harry Thomas Walton will be held on Friday, October 14, 2005 at 11:00 a.m. from the Chapel of Parkland Funeral Home and Crematorium, 6287 - 67A Street, Red Deer, AB. with Leanne Hall officiating. Condolences can be forwarded to the family at: www.parklandfuneralhome.com In living memory of Harry Thomas Walton, a tree will be planted in the Parkland Funeral Home and Crematorium Memorial Tree Park.