It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Wally, while at his seasonal home in La Quinta, CA at the age of 81. He was born to George & Bernadine Huntoon in Santa Ana, CA as the 2nd of 4 children. His family spent his early years living on the family farm, which is now close to South Coast Plaza, and were members of Trinity Lutheran Church. He attended the Paularino Elementary School and Trinity Lutheran School when the family moved into town. He graduated from Valley High School, S.A. College and Long Beach College. He was proud of his service in the Army, stationed in Germany, and was skilled in electronics.
Wally was preceded in death by his parents, his older sister Cathy, his younger brother John, and his partner Eileen Lewis. He is survived by his brother Ronald &wife Carolyn Huntoon of Marble Falls, TX; nephews Evan, Brian & Jason; nieces Tracy, Marta, Alayna & Jennifer; 9 great-nieces and nephews; brother-in-law Dennis Swenson; and cousins Dianne (Jim Grissom) and Richard (Fran) Helberg.
His artistic talents were recognized by his 8th grade teacher and were combined with his interest in stage theater leading to a 55-year career as a Scenic Designer. Early employment included working for Klieg Lighting and designing for Knott's Berry Farm, which was followed by designing for Golden West College, Irvine Valley College, Saddleback College, for over 30 years, and the Orange County School of the Arts totaling over 800 productions.
He operated his own company, ProScenery, for many years, providing designs for national corporations such as Yamaha, Busch Gardens & Magic Mountain. Not only was his work seen locally at the Fullerton Civic Light Opera, Laguna Playhouse and the Gem Theatre, where the stage was named in his honor, his complete sets have been shipped internationally. Many sets displayed his love of trees which became a personal logo. His talents & achievements were recognized by theatrical reviews, the reception of a regional Emmy and as the subject of a documentary entitled "My Life by Design". If you knew Wally, you knew his sense of humor and that he had a story about everything and that you might have heard that story before.
His leisure time was playing golf, visiting & laughing with friends and enjoying his seasonal home in La Quinta.
The desert Art Community enjoyed his talents by displays at the local museum, his Open Houses & serving as a judge at the L.Q. Arts Celebration. As recounted by Wally's friends: most rewarding to him were the letters & emails he received from former students thanking him for his knowledge and the encouragement he imparted to them. Many of these students eventually worked in the theatre industry. "Wally Huntoon cannot ever be replaced, but he will always remain in the memories of those he inspired, the sets he built and the impact he had on so many lives".
Interment will be at the Riverside National Veteran's Cemetery on February 25, 2025, at 11:30 am. A Celebration of Life is anticipated for a future date.
The website of the Arlington Cremation Services, Riverside, provides an opportunity to share memories of Wally.
In lieu of flowers, please consider planting a Memorial Tree in his Honor through their Tribute Store; furthermore, Wally supported the American Cancer Society in memory of his sister Catherine (Huntoon) Swenson.