Obituary for Walter H Votaw

Walter Harold Votaw


October 6, 1925 – September 28, 2009

Walter Harold (Sonny) Votaw was the only son of Walter and Rhetta Votaw. He had four sisters, Vivian Fowler now 88 years old, Henrietta Nelson, Imogene Fulmer, Ruth Chandler of which are all deceased. They were raised in Holdenville, Oklahoma until Walt was 10 years old. They moved from the dustbowl of Oklahoma to Bell, California. Walt joined the Navy when he was just 17 years old. He served our country in World War II in the South Pacific for four years. When he returned from the war he went home to Holdenville, Oklahoma where he met Maxine Cotton. When Maxine finished high school in May they were married on June 6, 1948. They moved to California immediately.

Walt worked many jobs, from oil rigging to cab driver - from Texas to California. He then went to work for Robson Machine shop where he learned his trade. He started in partnerships and formed Monarch Machine. In 1963 he branched off and started his own machine shop, Votaw Precision Tool. He had what it took to be a successful business man with his hard work and smart wit. He could sell a refrigerator to an Eskimo. Walt Votaw of Votaw Precision Technologies has had a very successful business. It has blossomed over the years with up to 180 employees. His company has had joint ventures with Hercules for the Titan and Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Motor Upgrade contracts and large contracts with Thiokol. Hercules and Thiokol are both now part of ATK Utah. They were awarded honors with an Award in 1976 for Small Business of the Seven Western States as well as the most recent for 2008 Small Business Award with NASA Marshal Space Flight Center. Walt & Maxine sold their business in 1988 and retired to their homeland of Oklahoma at Grand Lake.

Walt got very sick in 2001 with triple by-pass and lung surgery which nearly took his life then. They returned to California to be near their children.

Their journey continued when they decided to buy Votaw Precision back in 2003 after Kaiser Aerospace was going to dissolve the assets and close the doors. The employees at the company gave Walt & Maxine a standing ovation on their return to the company.

Their hobbies, other than working hard, were square dancing in their younger days, bowling leagues and motor home trips with their RV club. They have long time friends from the early 1950’s to this day.

Walter was a lifelong Mason of 62 years and Worshipful Master in 1981. Also a Shriner & Elks member for many years.

Walter was diagnosed with cancer in late July and fought this with the utmost dignity. He had his wife, daughter, son, son in law and two grandsons at his side as he took his last breath.

The love affair this man had for his wife is to be written. Walt could not do enough for Maxine. We believe he is walking on water for her now.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Maxine, his two sons Richard (Karrie), Rhett and his daughter Linda (Jim) Davis. His grandchildren, Joel (Jaime) Votaw, Jeremy (Allison) Votaw, Joshua Votaw, Kristy (Joshua) Jones, Gigi (Aaron) Rodriquez, Bridgette Votaw, Walter “R.J.” (Tiffany) Votaw. His great grand children, Jonas, Carson, Marin, Ethan, Jenna, and Brooklyn Votaw, Emily & Brian Rodriguez. And has now come to know his newest twin great grandchildren Jaxon and Jet Jones.

His legacy will live on forever. He will be missed and cherished by his friends and family. His spirit lives on and he would have wanted us to say for him, “To Better Days”. We love you Walter (Sonny), dad, grand dad and great grand dad and most of all husband.

The funeral services will be held on Saturday October 10th, 2009 at 12:00 p.m., Rose Hills Memorial Park, 3666 Workman Mill Rd., Whittier, CA. Sky Rose Chapel followed by a grave side navy honored guard tribute. Immediately following the grave side services will be a procession to the company for a celebration of his life and legacy.