William H. Walton, Jr.

Biography

William H. Walton, 1924-2009

"William H. "Billy" Walton Jr., a past president of the Northeast Florida Homebuilders Association and one of the founders of Episcopal High School of Jacksonville, died at home Sunday. He was 84 and had been in deteriorating health for several months. There was a private funeral for the family Tuesday, followed by burial in Evergreen Cemetery. A memorial service will be at 3 p.m. Thursday at St. John's Cathedral, 256 E. Church St. The family will receive friends at home after the service.

"Born in Jacksonville, Mr. Walton graduated from Robert E. Lee High School before attending Georgia Tech, where he received a degree in electrical engineering. After college, he served in the Navy at the end of World War II. He was recalled for duty during the Korean War. One of his early business partners, Jacksonville attorney Charles Towers, recalled that Mr. Walton trained as a broker with Merrill Lynch in New York. Billy had an outstanding education in both engineering and business," Towers said. "He was very talented in both areas."

"Towers and his brother, William Towers, joined with Raymond Mason and Mr. Walton to form the Hercules Co., of which Mr. Walton served as president. Over a period of eight years in the 1950s and early 1960s, the company built thousands of homes in the Cedar Hills area of the Westside, Sherwood Forest on the Northside, San Jose on the Southside and Royal Palms in Atlantic Beach, Towers said. After a real estate slump when his partners pursued other interests, Mr. Walton stayed in the business and built a number of apartment complexes that he managed. He remained active as a real estate developer until a few years ago.

"Mr. Walton was active in the business affairs of the Episcopal Diocese of Florida. In addition to the development of Episcopal High School, where the boathouse for the school rowing team is named for him and his wife, Mr. Walton was instrumental in the building of Cathedral House, headquarters for the diocese. He was a member of the Vestry at St. John's Cathedral and a trustee emeritus of Episcopal High School.

"A son, William H. Walton III, described his father as "a great man who was generous, kind, thoughtful, considerate, the consummate gentleman. With Dad, it was all family and work."

"But he also believed in helping the community in which he worked. In the 1960s when public school teachers went on strike here, Mr. Walton took time away from his work to teach math classes at Lee High, his alma mater.

"Mr. Walton's wife of 57 years, Elizabeth Schofield Walton, died in 2007. In addition to his son, he is survived by another son, Alonzo D.S. "Lon" Walton of Jacksonville; three daughters, Elizabeth S. "Beppy" Walton of Atlanta, Mildred W. "Missy" York of Richmond Hill, Ga., and Raymur W. Rachels of Jacksonville; 13 grandchildren; and a sister, Jane Walton Vaden of Savannah."