Obituary of Kenneth Walton

Kenneth Lee Walton age 83, passed away on August 26, 2024, in Centralia, Washington. He was the son of Finley Elbert Walton and Delephene Rheba Taylor and the stepson of Theodore Ramirez. Ken was born in Martinez, California on September 25, 1940. He is survived by one sister, Barbara Brauner of Big Springs, Texas. Another sister, Loretta Mae Walton died as an infant. He married Violetta Dorine Moore on July 31, 1961. They had four children: Kenneth Andre Walton, Ursula Wendell Walton (Burge) (deceased), Vanessa Dorine Walton Moon, and Eric Gregory Walton. He has two stepsons, Jerrod Pilant and Justin Pilant. He has ten grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren. Ken was an extraordinary man. As a Chickasaw Native he walked with one foot in two worlds. He was known by his Native American name, Howling Wolf. He married Cynthia Joy Tucker Pilant on July 4, 1993, in Las Vegas, Nevada in a traditional Native American Ceremony. They were married for thirty-one years. They met at a youth camp in the San Bernardino mountains in California. Ken performed Native American dancing and he introduced the concept of a Native American program. He also participated in the initiation of the first Pow Wow in Lake Arrowhead, California. Ken moved to Helena, Montana where he formed a Native American drum and dance group, Old Medicine. He worked for the state of Montana at the Capitol complex in Helena in maintenance and the Holter Museum of Art, as a preparator. He was instrumental in forming partnerships with the Holter Museum, Helena Indian Alliance and the Wakina Sky Learning Circle and Library, an after school program for Native American children at risk. He served on the Board of Directors for the Indian Alliance and Wakina Sky. He also instituted an annual celebration at the Holter Museum of Art, “Tiospaye” a day of traditional dance and drumming to honor families and the elders of the community. Ken was a Head Man Dancer at the Helena, Montana Pow Wow in 2000. His dance was traditional style. In addition he performed at many places in the community including the Holter Museum, Cooney Convalescence Home, Masonic Convalescence Home, and the Montana State Museum. He participated in making a DVD for low-impact exercise geared toward Montana’s Indian seniors, encouraging them to stay active in their later years. He performed a blessing of the cornerstone at the Montana State Capitol in Helena at the 100th anniversary celebration in 2000. He traveled to the Netherlands at the invitation of the Netherlands Association for North American Indians (NANAI) and performed dancing at schools and hospitals while there. The Helena Independent Record dubbed him the “Dancing Ambassador”. Ken loved dancing and drumming at Pow Wows, kayaking, collecting vinyl records, classic cars, desert motorcycle racing and thrift stores. He participated in a 5K race at the age of 72. He had a great sense of humor and enjoyed storytelling and making his own Native American dance regalia and other Native American crafts. He also played the Native American flute. He moved to Seattle, Washington from Helena where he served on the Board of Directors at Lakeview North Condominiums. He then moved to the Channel Islands in California and lived on a motor yacht. In 2018 he joined the Channel Islands Coast Guard Auxiliary. He was well loved and respected and will be greatly missed.