About the Artist
Robert Walton
Robert few remaining originals, and a selection of his never before viewed Canvas Giclee Prints
would have been shown for the first time, at the Western Heritage Artist Show, in Great Falls Montana.
Due to the nat'l health issues, his originals and canvas giclee canvas prints, are available from this web site,
and also by contacting his wife, Betty Jean Billups at [email protected]
Robert (Bob) Lee Walton of St. John, WA passed away May 20, 2019 after a brief illness.
Bob was born April 24, 1934 in Tacoma, WA to Leroy and Edna Walton Sr.
He was a gifted musician that mastered several instruments, played in a band,
and enjoyed music throughout his life.
As a teenager, Bob joined the Tacoma Mountaineers and became part of a group of renowned climbers
including Jim and Lou Whittaker and Leroy Ritchie. Together they climbed most of the major peaks
in the Pacific Northwest. In 1958, Bob was a member of the team that made the first ascent
of the South Mowich Glacier Icefall and Tahoma Sickle on the West Wall of Mt. Rainier,
a route seldom used since due to its technical difficulty and dangerous terrain.
Following graduation from Stadium High School, Bob served in the Coast Guard,
spending time on an ice cutter in the Arctic. Bob enjoyed camping, fishing, hunting and the outdoors,
which he loved to paint until his final days. In 1957 he married Rosemary "Robin" Fogarty and started a family.
Bob began painting in his 30’s. In a matter of a few years, he became an accomplished full-time western artist,
with his paintings appearing in galleries, art shows, and private collections throughout the United States,
including an original painting on display in the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Washington DC and a 6,356
square foot mural in Heppner, Oregon. In 1994 he became one of Leanin' Tree's major artists, and to date,
has had many of his paintings published by Leanin' Tree, of Colorado.
Bob lost his wife Robin after 55 years of marriage. The two of them traveled to many art shows,
promoting Robert's work over those years, as many as 17 a year! In 2015, he married artist
Elizabeth (Betty) Jean Billups, who assisted Robert, so that he could paint
7 hours a day, 7 days a week, unless an errand to run, a fish to catch, or an art show to participate in.
He was preceded in death by his first wife Robin, and older brother Leroy Walton Jr.
He is survived by his artist wife Betty Jean Billups; daughters Stephanie (Nicholas) Hetrick of McKinleyville, CA;
Marcie Ballard of Port Angeles, WA; Cynthia (Alan) Blumenshein of St. John, WA;
eleven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
While no longer with us, Robert’s spirit and love of the mountain peaks he once climbed
is captured for eternity in his art, and will continue to bring joy to us all.
By Nicholas Hetrick
