NWA Capt. Raney W. Walbaum

 

~ IN MEMORY ~

Military veteran, NWA Capt. Raney W. Walbaum

January 14, 1931 ~ August 2, 2022

 

Now posted on the RNPA website ( https://rnpa.org/memoriam/obits ) , the passing of retired Northwest Airlines pilot Captain Raney “Wally” Walbaum, age 91.   Captain Walbaum joined Northwest 04-04-1959.  He was widowed in July of 2020 with the passing of his wife Cheryl ( https://pcnflightwest.blogspot.com/2020/08/nwa-fa-cheryl-katherine-crothers.html ), and is survived by his daughters and their families.

Please see complete obituary below.

Thank you,

~ Carol for the PCN 

 

 

   Captain Raney W. (Wally) Walbaum, age 91, died at home in Santa Barbara, CA August 02, 2022. At the end of his life Wally was receiving hospice care at home. He went peacefully given he was ready.

 

   Wally was born January 14, 1931, at Harvey Wells, North Dakota, to Edna (Oleson) Walbaum and Raney August Walbaum. He was the youngest of three children, preceded in birth by sisters Ruth and Dorothy.

 

   During his high school years Wally lived in Detroit Lakes, MN. He was an excellent student, an Eagle Scout, and excelled as an athlete. "Wally was one of the best three athletes to have ever played at Detroit Lakes, if not the greatest athlete to have played," said 1949 DLHS graduate Sis Olson, also a close friend of Walbaum since they were ten years old. Many senior citizens, long term residents of Detroit Lakes, MN, report that Wally Walbaum was the ‘Track Superstar’ of his time. There is more: in addition to track, Wally Walbaum was also an exceptional basketball and football player. His basketball skills earned him high honors as a season high scorer. The Detroit Lakes High School honored Wally Walbaum (Class of 1949) by admitting him to their athletic Hall of Honor.

 

   A track and field sports scholarship from the University of Minnesota assisted Wally in his college studies. He was by all definitions a serious student who opted for an academic major in business administration studies. However, it was his athletic skills that acclaimed the name Wally Walbaum. During his athletic tenure at the U. of Minnesota (1949-1953) Wally set pole vaulting records that remain unbeaten today. And he set those records with a bamboo pole! In his senior year (1953) the University of Minnesota Athletics Department named Wally captain of the Gophers track and field team and awarded him the coveted Wells Hodgson track award. He was credited by Minnesota Athletics Department as being one of their top five athletes in the University of Minnesota history.

 

   While there Wally was an active member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity and graduated from the University of Minnesota Spring Quarter, 1953.

 

   As per Wally’s overall ascent to excellence, he entered the military via a non-standard track. In September 1953 Wally entered the Navy as a Naval Aviation Cadet (NAVCAD)… yes there were college graduate NAVCADs. His military, preflight and pilot training at NAS Pensacola, Florida lasted 18 months. In April 1955 during his commissioning and ‘Winging’ ceremony Wally Walbaum was designated the Top Student in his flight training class.

 

   Wally’s first post training assignment was to VMA-331 at MCAF Opalocka to fly the Douglas AD-5. Perhaps flying the AD-5 explains why Wally’s right leg was larger than the left. In 1958 VMA-331 transitioned to the Douglas A4D2 Skyhawk. During his time with VMA-133 Wally frequently participated in flight operations from the aircraft carrier USS Leyte (CV-32).

 

    Wally separated from the active Marine Corps in late March of 1959. Northwest Airlines hired Wally April 04, 1959. His initial training was as a copilot in the Douglas DC-4 and DC-6. He flew the DC-6 for a little over two years before upgrading to the DC-7. Thereafter he flew second officer in the Boeing 720/320, followed by a return to the copilot’s position on the Lockheed Electra (L-188) and the Boeing 720/320. The remainder of his career was spent as captain on the Lockheed L-188, Boeing 727, Boeing 720/320, DC-10 and the classic 747.

 

   The year following his initial hire with NWA, Wally married Sandra Jones. Two wonderful daughters came from this marriage: Kim Walbaum and Jodi Walbaum-Vaniman. In 1978 Wally and Sandra parted their lives and were divorced.

 

   Wally married Cheryl Wilson in 1985, the year before his medical retirement.

 

   In the 1960s a group of Marine Aviators in the Twin Cities known as the RAMS, (Raggedy Ass Marines) collectively purchased a cabin on Lake Mille Lac northwest of the Twin Cities in Minnesota. This group of military alumni shared interests in fishing and hunting, especially waterfowl hunting. Wally enjoyed the company of these men and their spirited camaraderie.

 

   In 1986 Wally medically retiree from NWA flying due to lower back disorders. Hardly surprising considering the hard landings from pole vaulting.

 

   Two years before his death Wally lost his wife Cheryl Wilson.

 

   There is little doubt that Wally Walbaum was for those of us who knew him a most memorable personality. He never ceased to uplift our spirits, each encounter with Wally was a positive moment in our day. We are profoundly grateful to have known this remarkable man.

 

   (~ Bill Day)