Walter King Root

Walter King Root passed away on March 23, 2018 at the age of 84 and returned to his sweetheart wife Linda Williams Root.  Walter was born on April 11, 1933 in Van Nuys, California to Julien Van Cleave Root and Florence Esther Violet King Root.
Walter was a man of music, sports, love and charity. Walter has lived in California, Washington, Arizona and Idaho following his family to run summer YMCA camps for boys. Walter spent most of his schooling in Boise, Idaho where he excelled at music and sports. He loved playing the saxophone and played in many dance bands.  He also exceled at basketball, swimming and other sports. He didn’t realize his friends Roger and Bruce Williams had a beautiful little sister who was a cheerleader and newspaper writer. Both he and Linda Williams attended the University of Idaho in Moscow after high school where this relationship grew over the next year and a half. Walt took Linda to “The Dipper” dance hall in Moscow on a regular basis and danced to the sounds of the big bands, which made them fall deeply in love. Walter graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering and was offered a job in California.
Walter and Linda married December 30, 1955 and moved to San Jose, California to begin a new career with Owens Corning Fiberglass. Walter and Linda were then sealed together for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake LDS temple on October 8, 1957. Walter’s employment took him to Seattle, Washington and then back to Boise. He eventually, took a job in Salt Lake City and spent most of his life there with his wife and four children (Laurie Clark, Camille Jones, Christopher Root and Scott Root).
Walter was a convert to the LDS church and honored his priesthood responsibilities. He served in many capacities in the church. He sang for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir for 20 years and enjoyed the many trips throughout the world he and Linda could take with the choir.
Walter is proud that he began working on his own and established Root Industries, where he served as a manufacturers Rep for several companies. He spent much of his later years organizing many charitable ventures to serve those that were less fortunate.  He worked with medical professionals to donate dental care, eye care, food and other he provided many other charitable acts of kindness.
Linda passed away in 2013, leaving him very lonely and longing to be with his soulmate again.  Walter then married childhood friend Lois Kerns Peterson who saved him from great loneliness.
Eventually, his health deteriorated ad his oldest daughter and son-in-law Jim and Laurie Clark cared for him in Seattle. He spent a very short time in Riverway Nursing Home where he received loving attention from the staff and family members. Walter was able to have his family members spend quality time nursing him, enjoying his company, laughing and loving each other. He will be greatly missed.
Graveside services will be held at Holladay Memorial Cemetery (4900 South Memory Lane, Holladay, UT) at 1:00 p.m., Thursday 29th.
In case of inclement weather services will be held at Memorial Holladay~Cottonwood Mortuary (4670 South Highland Drive).  For interview and life sketch of Walter, visit YouTube.com and type “Walter King Root”.
Service Information

Graveside Service
March 29, 2018 at 1:00 PM
Holladay Memorial Park, 4900 South Memory Lane (1990 East), Holladay, Utah 84117