Randy passed away peacefully at the age of 79. He will be fondly remembered for the many roles he held in life - husband, father, professor, friend, mathematician. Perhaps his greatest and proudest title was Papa.
Randy was born in Cheyenne, WY to parents, Henry and Esther Walters. He was an exceptional violinist and student. Randy loved to play and watch sports and became an avid runner. He seemed to know something about everything, making him nearly unbeatable in Trivial Pursuit. To know him was to know three things: family, education and wine.
Randy met the love of his life, Sharon, at an A&W root beer stand when she was just 16 and he 17 while both were on a date with different people. In a bold move, Randy asked his date for Sharon’s number and the rest is history! Their 59 year marriage and love story took them across continents and five states through multiple moves and a shared love of travel, music and adventure. These experiences produced wonderful friendships, many of whom are still considered extended family.
A lifelong academic, Randy received the first ever Masters Degree in Mathematics from the University of Texas at El Paso. Later, he earned a PhD in Mathematics from New Mexico State University. His meticulous, re-written notes were something of a legend - staying neatly filed away until 2015. Randy had a long and distinguished career, where he first was a professor of Computer Science and retired as a Computer Scientist from Northrop Grumman where he helped solve the toughest problems in space, aeronautics and defense. As life progressed, so did his love/hate relationship with taxes. He became quite the accountant in his later life, applying both rigor and anger to the tax code. Randy was always on the hunt for a tax break!
Even in his final moments, he loved a good glass of wine. Randy and Sharon recently celebrated their wedding anniversary by sharing crab, a favorite meal from the family’s time in Northern California, and red wine by candlelight. Randy is survived by his wife, Sharon; children, Randall Brent Walters (Lori Cooper), and Allison Deaver (Matt); cherished grandchildren, Riley and Griffin Walters, and Kate, Joe and John Deaver; and brother, Reggie of Pampa. He was preceded in death by his parents.
To honor Randy, be curious, inject a little mischief in your life, go for a run, listen to the classics and find a great bottle of red wine to toast a life well lived (just please don’t toast him with Merlot)
