Wally was, is, my friend. This has nothing to do with politics and I am sorry if I am breaking some rules, but I have this need to eulogize my friend if only for myself. I have sat on this for a couple weeks afraid of the feelings that my come from writing this, but I need to get this out.
Wally was the nicest most sincere man I have ever met in my life. An avid model builder and Washington Huskies fan, he was always wearing a smile and ready to help with anything he could.
Wally was the first peron I met when I went back to college. As a 30 year old I was woefully unaware of how times had changed in the 10 years since I had last attempted higher education. From the first meeting, I struck a conversation with him in the hobby shop he ran below the Hodgin's Drug Store in Moscow. He sat and listened to me rattle on about how times had changed, and how this was probably a stupid idea for me to try and go back. We talked about life in a small Idaho town, things to do and what we liked about the area.
Wally suggested I needed a diversion to try and deal with the stress of going back to school and going through a divorce at the same time. He gave me a 1/48 scale kit of a P-38 Lightning and the gear to build it. I worked on that kit when things were really getting nuts, and in about a month I finished. It was horribly built, gaps in the joints, paint glopped over it, fingerprints marring the "glass" pretty much something that a 5 year old could easly better. Wally encouraged me, while admitting that it was a pretty horrible build in a light hearted way. He took the time to walk me through some master class tips on how to improve and I took home another kit. I spent another month building this kit, and with his help and guidance it turned pretty good (I still have it 10 years later).
From there it was a weekly thing, go see Wally and see what groovy kits he just got in. Always, Wally was happy to see me and the other stressed out friends I brought with me.
For ten years, I routinely picked up kits, detail sets, resin doodads, from Wally. Even when I moved to Seattle, I would email Wally and see if he could get a certain piece for me. He always did.
Several years ago, he tried to get me to buy a 1/72 brass Eindecker skeleton kit, I couldn't even see the parts, much less build up a kit like that, which he found immensely funny. I passed on that kit and that Christmas, he sent it to me. I still have it in the box, completely unbuilt. His sick little joke still mocks me every time I look at it. One of those strange shows of affection that only guys do.
A couple of years later, I moved again, got a demanding job with a Tech company and Wally and I stopped keeping in touch. We'd send each other an email once in a while, kinda checking in.
Out of the blue last year, Wally called. We talked for a couple of hours about life, his girlfriend he met in the 'net, my wife, family, etc. It was good to talk to him. He mentioned that he was working out again, (Wally was a large man) and playing in a semi pro football team. I never really understood what prompted the call.
Two weeks ago, my brother in law called us to let me know that Wally had passed from spinal cancer. He had spent his last few months unable to walk and being taken care of 24 X 7 in a nursing home. At that point, I knew why Wally had called, he just found out about the cancer, and was saying goodbye.
I miss you Wally. I understand why you didn't tell us about the illness, but I wish you had. We would have spent more time with you. I think of you every time I look at the kits that stack the shelves in the garage. I am going to build that Eindecker Wally, even if I have to use Mr. Magoo's glasses to do it!
I hope that wherever you find yourself now, you are happy and at peace.
Go Huskies!
Love, S.
If anyone reads this, love your friends and family, take joy in their presence, and live your life to the fullest.