Obituary: Walter LeBaron Luce
March 27, 1934 – December 18, 2023
December 27, 2023 Update, Jan. 2: This post has been updated with a date for a spring memorial service and interment at Maple Street Cemetery in Waterbury.
Walter LeBaron Luce, 1934-2023. Courtesy photo
Walter Luce, of Waterbury Center, Vermont, passed away on Monday, December 18, 2023, at the home of Greg and Cindy Black. He was just shy of 90 years old. Walter was born to Burton and Kathleen Luce on March 27, 1934, in Montpelier, Vermont.
He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1953 and served during the Korean War until 1957. After his service, he attended the University of Vermont where he graduated with his Bachelor of Science degree. Upon graduation, he went to work at IBM as an engineer for five years. He then decided to enter the teaching profession where he taught math and science for 23 years. Later in life, he ran a chimney sweep business, among other endeavors.
He married Lorraine Agnes Ripley in June 1954 and together they had a family of six children – four girls and two boys. Walter and Lorraine divorced in 1976. Walter then met Norma (Halo) Kirby and married her in Northfield, Vermont, five years later. Norma passed two years – almost to the day – before Walter passed. He missed her terribly and called her his true love. He moved to Utah at the urging of his children after her passing. Walter said that he would never want to live anywhere else besides Vermont, so it took the promise of getting to know his western-placed grandchildren to get him to relocate.
He loved playing cribbage and still won his fair share of games right up until his death. Walt loved all kinds of games, but especially card games that required some skill as opposed to just chance. He was the patriarch of the family and served in several leadership roles in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including several times as Branch President.
He was a Scoutmaster for many, many years. He helped the scouts make fiberglass canoes to sell, which helped pay for scouting costs. He would take his scouts on camping trips where they would "live off the fat of the land." They took only pancake batter and oil as staples.
Walter was a “gardener-in-training” and was constantly looking for ways to be better, trying out new tips and tricks every year. He grew potatoes for the food pantry in town and did all his carpentry and landscaping as he remodeled his Vermont home into three different apartments. His renters spoke well of Walter and sent him cards and letters while he lived out west. Vast amounts of genealogy was also done by Walter and Norma as a way to give the opportunity of the gospel to their ancestors. He served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with Norma in 1989 on the Lakota Sioux Indian reservation.
Walter is survived by his brother, David (Margaret) Luce, the last of the six children of Burton and Kathleen. Walter, or “Pops” as some of his stepchildren called him, also leaves behind a legacy of six children: Sharon (Brent) Jensen, Linda (Wendell) Gile, Melaney (David) Hills, Cynthia (Gregory) Black, Walt B. (Jennifer) Luce, and Frederick (Jodi) Luce ; three stepchildren, Robert Kirby, Derek (Dyann) Kirby, and Steven (Kathleen) Kirby; 21 grandchildren, five step-grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, four step-great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews, and other extended family members.
A viewing will be held on Dec. 29 from 9:45-10:45 a.m. with the funeral services at 11 a.m. at the chapel located at 1150 North 1270 West, Provo, Utah. The service has a Zoom link. Instead of flowers please contribute to your local food pantry/shelf/bank.
The family plans a spring graveside service at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 18, at the Maple Street Cemetery in Waterbury Center where interment will take place.
Online condolences may be made on the website of Anderson and Sons Mortuary in American Fork, Utah.