Franklin B. Walz

Mr. Franklin B. "Pete" Walz, age 78 years, of Jefferson City, Mo., went to be with Jesus Thursday, August 30, 2012, at Capital Region Medical Center. Pete was born November 16, 1933, in Jefferson City, the son of Carl J. "Buck" and Sophie E. Kuper Walz. He was married December 1, 1972, in Miami, Oklahoma to Judy E. Robertson. A life-long resident of the Jefferson City area, Pete was a 1953 graduate of Jefferson City High School where he excelled in sports and lettered four years in varsity football, basketball and baseball. He attended Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg. He served in the United States Army 1956 - 1958, serving 18 months in Korea. Pete was employed as a bookbinder with Von Hoffman Press for 40 years prior to his retirement in 1999. He was a co-owner of Walz Book Bindery with his brother Artie and mentored many young people in learning the trade. In 1989 to 1992, he and his wife Judy owned and operated Pedro's Homemade Hot Tamales Restaurant where they served his family's famous homemade hot tamales and chili. Pete and Judy continued to provide these for their family and friends. He was a member of Westview Missionary Baptist Church where he sang with a group at local nursing homes and helped in the children's Sunday School Department. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Roy Sone Post 1003; a member of the American Legion, Roscoe Enloe Post 5; and a member of the Jefferson City Jay Football Booster Club. Family was important to him and he loved big family get-togethers. One of his favorite past times was spending time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He recently completed a book on the history of the Walz family and has written a book of his sports memories to pass down to his children and grandchildren. An avid Jay Football fan, Pete had not missed a Jay Football game for the past fifty-nine years. Survivors include: his wife of almost forty years, Judy Walz; two daughters, Tracey Vandelicht (husband Mike) of Lake Ozark, and Shelly Adams (husband Paul) of Lohman; one son, Blake Walz of Castaic, California; two sisters, Wanda Alberts of Jefferson City, and Delores Shirley (husband Lyndal) of Eugene; one brother, Howard "Buck" Walz (wife Billie Jean) of Sun City, Arizona; six grandchildren, Shana Beasley (husband Clay), Ashley Myers (fiancÈ Tim Fuerst), Kaycee Vandelicht, Reid Walz, Brandon Adams (fiancÈ Rachel Loethen), and Taylor Adams; four great-grandchildren, Savannah Myers, Sydney Shipley, Brock Alexander, and Kamryn Fuerst; and numerous nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews that he loved very much. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Carl and Arthur Walz. Visitation will be at Freeman Mortuary from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 4, 2012. Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, September 5, 2012, in the Freeman Chapel with Pastor Michael Hearst officiating. Graveside services and interment with military honors will be conducted at Hawthorn Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to Westview Missionary Baptist Church Sunday School Department, the Alzheimer's Association Mid Missouri Chapter, or the Jay Football Foundation. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Freeman Mortuary. www.freemanmortuary.com