Robert Howard Walton III passed away on Thursday, May 21, 2026, at Unity Point Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa, surrounded by his family.
Bob was born March 31, 1941, in Oskaloosa, Iowa, the son of Robert Howard Walton II and Helen Goodwin Walton.
He grew up in Oskaloosa and graduated from Oskaloosa High School in 1959. He attended the University of Iowa from 1959 – 1960. In November 1961, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. After four years of duty in the U.S. 8th Air Force’s Strategic Air Command (SAC) as a Nuclear Weapons Specialist, he was honorably discharged and returned to the University of Iowa to earn a Bachelor of Business Degree in Insurance and Finance.
In his first year back, Bob met Ruth Ellen Jacobs in a U of I literature class. It was truly love at first sight. They pledged to marry on the third day … then waited a full three years to do so…as they knew the value of achieving their college degrees, which they both attained in June 1968.
Bob and Ruth were married on July 20, 1968, at the First Presbyterian Church in Sioux City, Iowa, which was Ruth’s hometown.
In that same year, Ruth began teaching second grade at Mark Twain Elementary School, while Bob advanced his MA degree. During this time, Bob taught several sections of undergraduate General Insurance in the Business College as a graduate teaching assistant for Professor Emeritus, Dr. Emmett Vaughan.
When his tour of duty in Phillips Hall Business College ended, Bob founded the first of two Iowa City independent property and casualty insurance agencies, including his own Walton Insurance Services. It later became part of the combined Welt, Ambrisco, and Walton Agency. The second agency, First Insurance Services, ultimately merged with several other Iowa City Agencies.
Bob was fortunate to be included in the first round of scholarships awarded by the Independent Insurance Agents in Iowa. While living in Iowa City, Bob served as President of the Iowa City Jaycees and received the top national Jaycees Henry Giessenbier Memorial Trophy for leading “the most outstanding Jaycee chapter in the State of Iowa.” He was then appointed to the new position of President of the Iowa Jaycee Metro Chapters.
In 1973, Bob and Ruth moved back to Oskaloosa to join Walton Insurance Agency, which was founded in 1930 and has been family-owned and operated ever since. Other family members readily joined him: Ruth in 1983 and Ryan in 2012. And speaking of Ryan: Bob and Ruth’s lives were immeasurably blessed by the arrival of their son Ryan Patrick Walton in 1975.
Throughout Bob’s whole life, organization, dedication, and leadership came naturally. After returning to Oskaloosa, Bob was awarded the Oskaloosa Jaycee Distinguished Service award for community service and the Iowa Governor’s Community Betterment Leadership Award for chairing the Oskaloosa Bicentennial Celebration. He then became the third member of the Walton family to serve as President of the Oskaloosa Chamber of Commerce. During his 50 years as an Oskaloosa Elks Club member, he received the Elk of the Year Award for club participation. Bob was a long-time, former member of the St. Paul Congregational Church.
Bob had many interests and hobbies, including a broad practical knowledge of computer
programming languages incorporated into hundreds of lines of program code written for a variety of projects, including his own prototype Home Run. His extensive Air Force electronics training further aided a lifetime of electronics experimentation. Other interests included music CD production, landscaping, and creative writing.
Bob was an avid U of I Hawkeye and Chicago Bear fan. Above all, Bob was a patriot. He loved this country profoundly.
Those left to cherish Bob’s life are his wife, Ruth, of 57 years, and his son Ryan.
Other family members include:
Sister-in-law Beth Livengood and her husband, Dr. Curtis Livengood of Marion, IA
Sister-in-law Mary Varner of Shaker Heights, OH
Brother-in-law Dr. Jeffry Peterson of Spirit Lake, IA
Brother-in-law Peter Jacobs and his wife Mary of Yorktown, VA
Sister-in-law Susan Hemminger and her husband John Hemminger of DM, IA
Brother-in-law Don Holmquist of Rochester, MN
and many other nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother-in-law, Dr. Vernon Varner, his sister-in-law, Kristin Peterson, his sister-in-law, Rachel Holmquist, and his nephew, Mathew Carl Livengood.
As was his wish, Bob’s body has been cremated, and burial of his ashes in Forest Cemetery in Oskaloosa will take place at a later date. There are no services planned at this time. Langkamp Funeral Chapel & Crematory has been entrusted with Bob’s final arrangements.
