Rev. Randall Rex Walton, 91, of McMinnville died Wednesday, Jan. 15, at NHC Healthcare in McMinnville.
 He was born May 22, 1922, in Lindsay, Calif., and was a lifelong member of People of the Living God Church where he served as head pastor from 1975 to 2012. Rev. Walton served his country with the U.S. Army as a tank driver in the 13th Armored Division 3rd Army under Gen. George Patton during World War II. He was preceded in death by parents Vern Ray and Marie Elizabeth Sechman Walton and siblings Ruth Ella Walton, Eileen Claire (Neil) Gritton, Dallas Ivan (Dora) Walton, Mabel Jean (Clyde) Layman, Margaret June (Clarence) Ax, Lowell Mahlon (Viola) Walton, and Catherine Rose Walton.
Survivors include his wife of 71 years, Helen Lillian Bennett Walton; children, Donna Marie (Ned) DeLand, Beverly Colleen (Alfred) King, and Randall Ray (Nancy) Walton, grandchildren Rodney Wayne (Tootie) King, Gina Marie (Kenneth) Fountain, Cindy Rene (Eric) Sammons; great-grandchildren, Ryan and Ethan King, and Alison and Tiffany Fountain; and step-grandchild Wyatt Sammons. Many nieces, nephews, family members, and friends also survive.
Funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at People of the Living God Church. Alfred King will officiate. Interment will follow at Homeland Acres Cemetery. The Walton family will receive friends Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the parlors of McMinnville Funeral Home, and again Saturday from noon to 1 p.m. at People of the Living God Church. There will be no visitation Saturday at the funeral home as family and friends will gather at the church. Military rites will be administered by American Legion Post 173 and the VFW Post 5064 at the funeral home Friday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Cedars of Lebanon Academy, 366 Cove Creek Road, McMinnville, TN  37110. Online condolences may be made at www.mcminnvillefuneralhome.com.
McMinnville Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Southern Standard
(McMinnville, Tenn.) Jan. 17, 2014