The following obituaries appeared in the June 17, 2020 edition of the Star Valley Independent.
For more area obituaries please visit Schwab Mortuary.
John Gilkey (Bud) Culliton passed away peacefully on June 10th at the Star Valley Care Center, after a long and lucky life. He was 96, although always insisted it was his 97th year. Bud was born on Friday the 13th, in November 1923. As a youngster he learned proficiency in boxing from his grandfather and father. Additionally his friends were Olympic swimmers and Bud became an excellent swimmer himself.
Soon after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Bud enthusiastically joined the Marines, and served in the Pacific as a sergeant with the 7th Defense Battalion, setting up artillery installations in American and British Samoa. Re-assigned to the Second Marine Division, he soon saw action on FunaFuti and Nanomea. In the latter place he saved a soldier’s life by swimming him to shore through a rising tide, and was given a special medal from his Marine commander.
Combat intensified when he landed with the first wave on Tarawa, where he was soon tapped to replace a dead gun battery officer. Later, because of his expertise with artillery, he was made a forward spotter to go out ahead of our lines and direct fire – once surviving an onslaught of 200 Japanese soldiers charging over the top of his hidden foxhole. After that battle, he found himself in the area of Okinawa and IeJima, leading cleanup patrols, clearing caves, and witnessing the worst part of war – the effects upon civilians. After three years and eight months in the pacific theatre, he continued to proclaim “I was lucky, very lucky” and acknowledged that war had lost its initial luster. But we are the lucky ones to have had such men as our real-life heroes.
After the war he worked as a cowboy south of Flagstaff Arizona. Then he moved to California to be near his older sister Jackie Besore, and became Water Master of a town near LA. After a few years, he owned and operated a Sand and Gravel operation that supplied special sands for metal die casting. He had two sons from a first marriage. After divorcing he took his trailer and went to the gold-fields of Alaska seeking a few nuggets. There, he gained little gold, but lost a thumb to a mean sled dog.
He next moved to West Yellowstone Montana, where he became proficient in snowmobiling. While traveling with his sister to Yellowstone Park, they found Star Valley Ranch, where they bought property and where Bud was one of the first to build a cabin. Bud loved to snowmobile during the winter and golf and fish during the summer. He would never hesitate to advise his fellow golfers how to play the game. Bud was known as a great dancer, the Fred Astaire of Star Valley, and loved to dance with many ladies. He also had an association with a Triple-Crown winning Jockey, Johnny Longdon, who once brought his horse to grace on Bud’s lot while visiting.
Bud is survived by two nieces, Andrea Besore and Charlsie Besore Gibson, and a half-brother James Culliton; his Sister Jacqueline Besore having passed ahead of him. Additional survivors are his long-time “girlfriend” Janie, and his faithful old dog, Badger III.
Following cremation, his ashes are expected to be spread in a special place. His friends will miss him and his sharing of colorful stories from his wild and interesting lifetime.
Ken Wilson was born, Kenneth Neil Wilson, on November 26, 1951 in Twin Falls, Idaho. His parents were Elton W. Wilson and Patricia Wilson. Ken passed away on February 21, 2020 in Etna.
Kent went to grade school in Twin Falls, Idaho and then the family moved Ken and his brothers Harry, John, and Jimmy to Blackfoot, Idaho in 1965. Ken graduated high school in Blackfoot, Idaho in 1970. Ken, was drafted in to the army, on January 19, 1971. He served in the US Army, as Military Police at the Presidio in San Francisco. On a 3-day pass, Ken married his high school sweetheart Sherrie Davis on June 16, 1971.
Upon his release from the Active Duty in October 1972, with an Honorable Discharge in 1976. Ken used his GI bill to attend Idaho State University in Pocatello, where he studied auto body and upholstery. Ken graduated in 1976, and moved the family to Twin Falls, where he worked at some upholstery and auto body shops fine-tuning his craft. The family then moved to Jackson, Wyoming in May of 1982, where Ken opened Teton Upholstery. Teton Upholstery operated in Jackson full time until 2000. Ken continued the upholstery work off and on in Alpine, Wyoming. For a change of pace Ken started working for local painters around Jackson. He painted houses from 2000 – 2015. Within that period, he continued to work on automotive upholstery and auto body with his son Josh in Alpine and continued until his passing.
Ken was married to Sherrie Davis Wilson for 28 years. They had two sons Josh and Zach Wilson. Josh and his wife Melisa, live in Alpine. Zach and his wife Hanneke live in Brussels, Belgium with their two sons Ronin and Brahm.
His parents Elton and Patricia Wilson precede Ken in death.
Kenny always had a smile on his face and loved nothing more than making those around him happy. All who knew dad will miss him. We will especially miss our camping and car show buddy. To quote one of dad’s favorite authors.
“Give a man enough rope and it still will come out six inches too short. That is the nature of rope, if not the nature of man.” —”Tying One On,” September 1987
In Lieu of flowers, please donate to the local VFW.
The graveside service will be held on June 20, 2020 at the Etna Cemetery. There will be a reception following the service as the Etna Community Center.
Wallace Hoskins was welcomed into heaven by his Lord and Savior on June 7, 2020.
Wally was born on March 29, 1940 in Blackfoot, Idaho to Lyle and Mary (Wallace) Hoskins. In 1948, the family which included four sisters and one brother, moved to Casper, Wyoming where he attended Saint Anthony’s Catholic School, Natrona County High School and Casper College. He chose to serve his country from 1961-1972 in the United States Air Force. It was while stationed at McClellan Air Force base in California he met the love of his life, Carol Anne Brown. They were wed on November 29, 1963 and were blessed with two daughters.
Wally continued his education at the University of Wyoming and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in biology and range management. He was emplooyed by the Natural Resource Conservation Service for 33 years, where he also served as the Water and Irrigation Specialist of Wyoming, out of several communities including; Casper, Laramie, Big Piney, Worland and Buffalo. After retirement he started an irrigation company and went on to become a consultant for wildlife management. He was also a volunteer for the Johnson County Assessor’s Office. Wally and Carol moved to Afton in March of 2015 to be closer to family.
Wally is preceded in death by his parents, Lyle and Mary, brother Lyle Hoskins, sisters Donetta Hoskins and Roberta Olney and granddaughter Tanna Heiss.
Wally is survived by his wife of over 56 years Carol (Brown) Hoskins, two daughters Kathy (Nathan) Heiss and Karen Reece, one grandson Nathan (Jennifer) Heiss, three granddaughters Paityn, Jaidyn and Tailyr Reece, five great grandsons Gage, Dawson and Aadon Heiss, Wyatt and Teagen Hatch, six great granddaughters Brooke Hatch, Morgan, Savannah, Lexi and Rylee Stubblefield and one great great granddaughter Paisley Grace, sisters Rita Stanford, Kathleen “Tiny” (Dean) Berger and Sharon Stewart, and 21 nieces and nephews.
Wally’s funeral service will be held Friday, June 12, 2020 at Schwab Mortuary in Afton. Interment at the Auburn Cemetery with Military Honors Ceremony to follow.
Our sweet little boy Wyatt Heiner was born on February 19, 2020 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
On Friday June 12, 2020 Wyatt passed peacefully away in the arms of his parents. Wyatt was born a fighter.
In the few short months Wyatt was with us he gave us so much joy and brought our family closer together. He has taught us so much about love and purpose. He fought a great fight and we will treasure the time that we were able to spend with him until we meet again.
He is survived by his parents, Rob and Rachel Heiner, five siblings; brothers Shawn, Ryan, Jason and sisters, Cambrie and Abigail.
We will be having a viewing in our home Tuesday, June 16, 2020 from 12 to 9 p.m. for family and friends, 3885 Heiner Road, Freedom, Wyoming 83120.
We will be having a funeral service for him at the Freedom Chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Thursday June 16, 2020 at 11 a.m. The funeral service is for family only as we are limited to 100 people.
