Walter Grensted Paul passed away May 12 at St. Alphonsus Hospital in Boise, Idaho.

Walt was born Aug. 12, 1923, to Walter George and Ethel Marie Paul in Roseburg. He graduated from South Deer Creek Elementary School, then from Roseburg High School. While in high school, he worked on the family farm at Hillcrest and on land he rented. He also started his own trucking business. On April 7, 1945, he married Ruth Elizabeth Heck in Roseburg. They farmed on South Deer Creek where their two daughters, Nancy and Annette, were born. The family later moved to Sheridan, where Walt farmed, logged, and served as chair of the elementary school board. In 1963, they moved to Bend, and in 1979, they moved to a new home that Walt built near Sisters. After the move to Bend, Walt worked for the USFS Deschutes National Forest until his retirement in 1985, though he remained on call to fight forest fires until 1993. After retiring, Walt often helped with volunteer projects in Sisters. In 2004, Walt and Ruth moved to Hines, where they met new friends through Senior Center activities and Walt served a term on the Senior Center board.

Throughout his life, Walt was an avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, running rivers, traveling, hiking and exploring – hiking even in 2018. He enjoyed reading history, particularly of Oregon and the Western United States. Walt and Ruth loved gardening and always kept a beautiful yard. Walt enjoyed meeting people and always valued his many friends.

Walt is survived by his daughters, Nancy Shaw and her husband, David, of Boise, Idaho, and Annette Denker and her husband, Tom, of Ketchum, Idaho. He is predeceased by his wife, Ruth; and his sister, Vernie Paul Deniston.

A memorial will be private. Donations in memory of Walter Paul may be made to the Harney County Senior Center, 17 S. Alder, Burns, Oregon 97720, or to the charity of your choice.