Walter Zollars Jr

Walter “Bud” Clay Zollars, Jr., passed away Dec. 19, 2014, from mesothelioma, at his home in Lake Havasu City, Ariz., with his wife of 63 years, Mary Jane (Vick) and his youngest son at his side. A private memorial will take place Thursday, August 20, at 10 a.m. at the Methodist Church with internment and military honors taking place after the service at the Libby Cemetery.

Walter Clay Zollars, Jr., was born August 20, 1930 in Libby, to Walter Zollars, Sr., and Irene (Rogers), the youngest of three children. His oldest sister, Faith (Spencer), a life-long resident of Libby, passed away February 14 of this year. He is survived by his middle sister, Ferne (Pearson), who resides in Portland, Ore. His maternal grandmother (Irene Rogers) was one of the original settlers in Libby, and his father came to Libby on the train after his service in the Spanish-American war in the Army. He would serve again in WWI in the U.S. Navy. His father worked in the sales department at J. Neils Lumber company for 30 years and his mother was an active member of the Libby Presbyterian church.

Bud worked from a young age, first in the family mines at the Saint Paul Claim with his Uncle Mike Shanahan, (husband of his mother’s sister). Then, at age 15, he  began working for the U.S. Forest Service on a blister rust crew, fighting the spread of the pine beetle. He held many other jobs throughout his school years, including delivering groceries, chopping wood, setting pins at the local bowling alley, clerking at an auto store and as a lumberjack for J. Neils Lumber Company.

After graduating from high school in 1948, he enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1951, going to basic training at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, Texas. After basic, he was selected to attend the United States Air Force, Air Training Command, Aero Industries Technical Institute for Aircraft and Engine Mechanic Fundamentals in Oakland, Calif.,  where he graduated third in his class. From there, he was sent to the United States Air Force, Air Training Command, course at Chanute AFB, Ill., to become an Aircraft Reciprocating Engine Mechanic Specialized R-4360, where he graduated first in his class, learning the intricacies of B-50s, B-36s and other aircraft. Undoubtedly, his intelligence is what saved him from deploying to the Far East, a location, he confided in letters to his parents, many of his fellow classmates were headed after basic training. Bud would serve four years in the Air Force in CONUS and Europe, including Walker AFB, Roswell, N.M,, Limestone AFB, Limestone, Maine and Mildenhall RAF, Mildenhall, England.

On May 4, 1952, he and Mary Jane Vick (affectionaly known as “Vick”) were married at the Methodist Church in Libby. Soon after, he and Vick moved to Walker AFB in Roswell, N.M. After a tour in England, Bud returned and he and Vick moved to Limestone AFB in Limestone, Maine. There, they had their first of what would eventually be six children, Walter Clay Zollars, III. In 1955, Walt and Vick returned to Libby, eventually moving to Spokane, Wash., where Walt would attend school.  

Walt attended Eastern Washington University and earned his Master’s Degree in Education and Art Appreciation. He taught art for over 20 years in Washington State in high schools in Spokane, Wash., and Puyallup, Wash. In addition, he taught summer school classes at Eastern Washington University and Whitworth College. In that time, he also worked as the advertising manager for Drug Fair, in Kalispell, for a couple years. Before retiring, he worked for the Washington Education Association in the communications department.

During their married life, Walt and “Vick” lived in Spokane, Wash., Kalispell and Tacoma, Wash., while raising their six children. After retirement, they settled on the Washington coast, but ended up spending their retirement years buying, fixing and selling homes in Montana, New Mexico and Arizona.  

Walt’s loves outside of his family included the enjoyment of music, poetry, calligraphy and works of art. He’d studied all of the master painters and could identify them all. He believed and taught his students that art wasn’t something you hung on the wall, it was what was in you. He also believed writing was a form of art and he was known for his beautiful letters and drawings. He loved poetry, particularly T.S. Eliot, and studied much of his work during his later years. Walt also had a passion for classic British sports cars, buying, restoring and selling many over the years, especially Austin Healeys and Triumphs.

Walter was preceded in death by his mother, father and sister, Faith Spencer. He is survived by his sister, Ferne (Pearson) of Portland, Ore.; his wife, Mary Jane (Vick) Zollars, Jr., of Thompson Falls and their six children: Clay Zollars of Corpus Christi, Texas, Mike Zollars of Fife, Wash., Jess (Sherry) Zollars of Auburn, Wash., Scott (Beth) Zollars of Lynwood, Wash., Andre (Jim Klingaman) Zollars of Lewistown and Kent Zollars, of Thompson Falls; as well as nine grandchildren (Fallon, Ryan, Hailey, Claire, Megan, Andrew, Jack, Aleutia and Elias).