Jack (a.k.a. John Wesley) Walton departed this world unexpectedly on Wednesday, September 24 at his apartment in Concord, MA. His permanent home was in Oak Bluffs, MA where he enjoyed entertaining guests and relaxing on island time. He spent his childhood in Romansville, PA where he still frequented to visit family and purchase giant quantities of hoagies from the Italian Village in Downingtown, or shoo-fly pies at Grandmother Stolzfus' in Honeybrook. He is a graduate of Downingtown High School (1968), Vanderbilt University (1972) and Syracuse University (1977). He enjoyed a prolific career in television broadcasting, which started in Philadelphia at CBS. He moved to Boston in 1980, where he met his best friend Mike Fernandez working at Channel 7 (WHDH). He continued his career in television production at Channel 5 (WCVB), and Channel 4 (WBZ). He later moved to video production for Skyways in Norwood and MadDash in Woburn.
In addition to his love of writing and broadcasting, Jack enjoyed traveling with his life partner, Liz Williams of Syracuse, NY. He loved pubs, a good scotch, and encouraging people to have a good time. He was a lifelong driver and fan of Volkswagen cars, testing the limits of mileage and speed up and down the Eastern seaboard. It was not uncommon for him to be in Pennsylvania, New York State, and Martha's Vineyard in one weekend to visit family and friends. He was known for teasing his nieces and nephews (and later grand-nieces and grand-nephews) with stories of getting coal for Christmas and serving "bunny stew" for Easter, as well as passing along his love of Bugs Bunny cartoons.
Jack leaves a plethora of friends, colleagues, and family including but not limited to: his aforementioned life partner, Liz Williams of Syracuse, NY; his brother Dick Walton and sister-in-law Carole of Oak Bluffs, MA; his sister Jane Walton Pusey and her life partner Steve Benner of Romansville, PA; his aforementioned best friend Mike Fernandez and his wife Kathleen of Randolph, MA; his nephews Jonathan Pusey of Romansville, PA, James Walton and his wife Rachel of Surrey, England; and Jeffrey Pusey of Lincoln University, PA; his nieces Allison Page and her husband Ian of Ellicott City, MD, Anna Walton of New Orleans, LA, and Catherine Walton of Oak Bluffs, MA. He also leaves a gaggle of grand-nieces and nephews in Pennsylvania, England, and Maryland. His father, Francis Wesley Walton, and his mother, Sara Currie Walton preceded him in death.
Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday October 1st from 5 to 8 pm in the Dee Funeral Home, 27 Bedford Street, Concord Center.
Services and interment will be held on Friday October 3rd in Pennsylvania.
Donations in his memory may be made to the charity of one's choice.