Walter L. "Joe" Sutton

December 30, 1930 – May 17, 2026

Walter L. "Joe" Sutton passed away May 17, 2026, in Newport, WA. He was born December 30, 1930, in Spokane, WA to Clarence and Bertha Sutton. He grew up at Diamond Lake and attended elementary school in Newport, WA. During World War II, his family moved to Spokane where he attended Longfellow Elementary School and his Freshman and Sophomore years at Rogers High School. After the war, his family moved back to Diamond Lake, where he completed his Junior and Senior years at Newport High School, graduating with the class of 1949. While attending Newport High School, he enjoyed athletics and lettered in three sports; he was defensive and offensive back on the 1948 undefeated football team.

In the fall of 1950, Joe enrolled at Eastern Washington College and completed the fall quarter. In January 1951 he enlisted in the U. S. Navy during the Korean War. After completing Boot Camp in San Diego, CA, he was assigned to the U.S.S. Sanborn, a troop transport whose home port was Norfolk, VA. During his tour of duty, he attended a one-week damage control school in the Philadelphia Navy Yard, which included welding, firefighting, and shallow water diving. After completing Damage Control School, he returned to his ship, where he worked in the carpenter shop repairing landing craft. He was also in the firefighting unit. Upon receiving an honorable discharge, he returned to college at Eastern Washington University (EWU).

In August 1957, he married Elizabeth (Betty) Christensen in Spokane, WA. He completed his Bachelor's Degree in Education at EWU. Joe accepted a teaching position with the Easton School District. Later, he returned to EWU to complete his Master's Degree in Secondary School Administration and became the High School Principal at Easton.

During the summer of 1961, Joe was hired by the Washington State Parks Department as a camp supervisor for the First State Youth and Development Conservation Corps. The program hired youth that built a campground at Lake Easton State Park.

After 12 years of teaching and High School Principal, Joe accepted a position as Educational Consultant with the Washington Department of Juvenile Rehabilitation in Yakima, WA. Joe was part of a panel that set up an alternative education and vocational program at The Place in Yakima, WA. He was also employed as a counselor at Ridgeview Group Home in Yakima.

After his retirement from the state, he served 10 years as a Diking Supervisor for District 1 in Yakima. He was responsible for obtaining the services of Job Corps to repair and align the east bank of the Yakima River, saving the taxpayers several thousand dollars.

In 1994, Joe and Betty returned to the Diamond Lake area where he managed 140 acres of timber land, known as "The Acres". Joe served 13 years on the Newport Alumni Board until he and his wife moved to Mead, WA in 2017.

One of the highlights of his life was being selected to attend the Inland Northwest Honor Flight to Washington D.C. in the spring of 2017.

Joe was preceded in death by his wife, Elizabeth "Betty" Sutton, parents Clarence and Bertha Sutton, sister Vivian Geary, and brother Tom Sutton.

Joe is survived by his three children: JoAnn (Paul) O'Bernier, Janet (Doug) Doty and Ron Sutton, four grandchildren: Jeff Doty, Kristina (Sean) May, Erin (Andrew) Fite, and Sarah (Jared) Fite-O'Bernier, and nine grandchildren: Elizabeth, Lily, Emily, Jackson, Laura, Liam, Lucy, Rory, and Christopher.

Joe's family would like to thank the staff at River Mountain Village Advanced Care for the special care and friendship that they provided to Joe over the last three years.

A graveside service will be held at 11 am on Tuesday, June 16th at Newport Cemetery (161 Cemetery Lane, Newport WA). There will be a reception following the service for family and friends to celebrate the life of Joe at Sherman-Campbell Funeral Home (423 W 2nd Street, Newport, WA).

In honor of his life, contributions can be made to the Newport High School Alumni Association for the Scholarship Fund (P.O. Box 70, Newport, WA 99156).