Walter I. Staley

Walter Irvin "Babe" Staley was born on October 4, 1921 in Glen Elder, Kansas to Oscar and Effie (Henwood) Staley. He died on Saturday, January 21, 2006 at the Long Term Care Unit of Mitchell County Hospital in Beloit at the age of 84 years, 3 months, and 17 days.
He grew up with three brothers and three sisters in Glen Elder where his father was a stonemason and his mother worked at being a wife and homemaker. Walt says that he got his nickname, "Babe", from his family as he was always quite small, and the name stuck and he continued to use it.
Walt attended the Glen Elder Grade School and graduated from the 8th grade. He worked for awhile as a produce operator for Ralph Morris for several years before joining the Army at the age of 17. Walt served overseas in World War II and also in Korea.
He met Katherine Hale, who was working as a waitress in El Paso, Texas while he was stationed there. They dated for 12 days, and were married on January 12, 1949. They lived in El Paso for awhile, but moved around quite a bit, depending on where Walt was stationed. They even lived overseas for a short while.
Walt served in the Army for 21 years as a cook, and retired as a Sergeant 1st Class. After retiring from the Army, Walt and "Kitty" returned to Glen Elder. He worked for the railroad and at moving houses for a short time. He helped some of the local farmers at harvest time and also worked at tending bar in Glen Elder for about five years.
Walt and Kitty were married for almost 54 years; they had no children, although Kitty did have 2 sons, Lonnie Dean East and Ronald Hale of Texas.
He was a very quiet gentleman, who usually only spoke when he felt he had something important to say. He enjoyed fishing, caring for his dogs, playing cards, and vegetable gardening.
Walt was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Verla Rood and Margaret Parsons; three brothers, Doyle, Bill, and Junior Staley; his wife, Katherine; and one step-son, Lonnie Dean East.
He leaves behind one brother, Donald Staley of Denver, Colorado; two step-children, Lonnie Hale and his wife Cheryl of Texas; three step-grandchildren; his friends and staff at Long Term Care; and special friends, Mike and Rebecca Jones and family of Glen Elder.

Funeral services will be at 10:00 AM Friday, January 27, at the McDonald Funeral Home in Beloit with burial in Glenwood Cemetery. Memorials may be given to Solomon Valley Hospice, Long Term Care or Friends Church. Visitation will be from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM Thursday at the McDonald Funeral Home.