Obituary for Shirley Anne Walton (Dodenhoff)
Shirley Walton passed away peacefully at her home in Bakersfield, California on May 31, 2021. Shirley was born in Bakersfield on July 26, 1929 to Rebecca Isabella and Roland (Roy) Alvin Dodenhoff.
She graduated from East High School in 1947. During that time, she was one of the students featured on the cover of Life Magazine when the girls held a slumber party in the East High gym.
Shirley married her sweetheart Ralph Edward Walton on November 27, 1948. They met on a blind date at Sam Lynn Ball Park while Ralph was playing for the Indians. They were married seven months later and were married two months shy of 60 years when Ralph passed away.
Shirley’s first job at 16 was at Brock’s department store blowing bubbles as an advertisement at the store entrance. She began working for Getty Oil Company in the early 1970s. She started in accounting before promoting to a SCAN operator (one of the first computerized oilfield monitoring systems). She retired from then Chevron Oil Company in the 1980s.
Shirley and Ralph enjoyed traveling in their motorhome, cruising the world, and spending time with family and friends. Shirley was an avid bridge player and would play whenever she had the opportunity--even on a cruise ship.
Most of all, Shirley loved her family. She is survived by her three children: Michael Walton (Tish), CynDee Street (Jim) and Richard Walton (Kim). Six grandchildren: Jennifer Scheidle (Jeremy), Nicholas Street (Tracy), Amy Walton, Christy Westerfeld (Nate), Kaylon Drury (John) and Nicholle Eselman (Thomas). Eleven great-grandchildren: John and Claire Scheidle; Bailey, Katie, and Emily Street; Grayson and Reese Westerfeld; James and Rhett Drury; and Trey Eselman. Shirley is preceded in death by her husband Ralph Walton, great-grandson Nathan Street, brother Roland (Dode) Dodenhoff, and sister Thelma Hamilton.
Shirley will be laid to rest with her husband at Greenlawn Cemetery, 3700 River Blvd., Bakersfield, CA 93305 at a private graveside service.
She graduated from East High School in 1947. During that time, she was one of the students featured on the cover of Life Magazine when the girls held a slumber party in the East High gym.
Shirley married her sweetheart Ralph Edward Walton on November 27, 1948. They met on a blind date at Sam Lynn Ball Park while Ralph was playing for the Indians. They were married seven months later and were married two months shy of 60 years when Ralph passed away.
Shirley’s first job at 16 was at Brock’s department store blowing bubbles as an advertisement at the store entrance. She began working for Getty Oil Company in the early 1970s. She started in accounting before promoting to a SCAN operator (one of the first computerized oilfield monitoring systems). She retired from then Chevron Oil Company in the 1980s.
Shirley and Ralph enjoyed traveling in their motorhome, cruising the world, and spending time with family and friends. Shirley was an avid bridge player and would play whenever she had the opportunity--even on a cruise ship.
Most of all, Shirley loved her family. She is survived by her three children: Michael Walton (Tish), CynDee Street (Jim) and Richard Walton (Kim). Six grandchildren: Jennifer Scheidle (Jeremy), Nicholas Street (Tracy), Amy Walton, Christy Westerfeld (Nate), Kaylon Drury (John) and Nicholle Eselman (Thomas). Eleven great-grandchildren: John and Claire Scheidle; Bailey, Katie, and Emily Street; Grayson and Reese Westerfeld; James and Rhett Drury; and Trey Eselman. Shirley is preceded in death by her husband Ralph Walton, great-grandson Nathan Street, brother Roland (Dode) Dodenhoff, and sister Thelma Hamilton.
Shirley will be laid to rest with her husband at Greenlawn Cemetery, 3700 River Blvd., Bakersfield, CA 93305 at a private graveside service.