Obituary of Richard Alan Walls

December 3, 1948 - August 2, 2023

Dr. Richard Walls, beloved husband of Carolina Walls, of Calgary, AB, passed away on Wednesday, August 2, 2023 at the age of 74 years.

“Explore. Dream. Discover.” - Mark Twain. Richard followed this mantra all his life. He was born into a large Irish Catholic family from Maysville, Kentucky. His dad was in the US Air Force serving in two wars and part of his youth was spent in Eglin Air Force base in Florida. As one of five children, Dick was the mischievous one, embarking on numerous outdoor adventures, once posing a quandary for the nuns at his parochial school for his "gone fishing truancy" as he rescued someone from drowning in the river during his sojourn. An honest worker, Dick took on several jobs in his youth, cutting tobacco, dressing mannequins, and even catching frogs and rabbits for restaurants.

Exceptionally bright, he began studying journalism at Morehead State University before taking a geology course which changed his life. He graduated as the top student in his class and then went on to UNC in Chapel Hill for his Masters in Geology, becoming a lifelong Tar Heels fan as he tutored some of the basketball players for extra money.

Slated to go to Yale University for his PhD, his path digressed upon meeting a Calgarian at McGill University, Dr. Eric Mountjoy, a world-renowned carbonate guru, and he began mapping his thesis on horseback in the Canadian Rockies. While completing his PhD at McGill in 1978, he anticipated becoming a professor but saw a posting for Shell Oil based in Calgary and he thought, “I think I can find oil,” and sure enough he did! His career then encompassed Canadian Hunter followed by his own companies such as Pan East, Canadian Midstream, Fairborne, and even an international company with production in Colombia. In 2015, he received the Stanley Slipper Gold Medal for outstanding contributions to Oil and Gas Exploration in Canada.

Despite all his accomplishments, Dick loved his family most of all and if he was not working, he was with them. Nightly walks to catch up, hikes, flyfishing and kids' sports games—he was there cheering them on. He met his beautiful wife Carolina at a party describing it as a "coup de foudre" and told her during their first date that he wanted to marry her. She also attended McGill University and together they established the BEST in the West Scholarship to support students from the four western provinces to attend McGill. He was extremely generous with his friends and family and believed that education and sports were the two roads that could alter a life. In that respect, he funded local Calgary schools, sports teams, youth programs in Calgary (CPYF), as well as funded geological initiatives at Morehead State University. He was inducted into Morehead's Hall of Fame in 2005, and in 2013 he and his wife received a DSc from McGill University for their support of students.

His proudest moments were not in the boardroom but rather in the dining room at their home where many friends were welcomed, and opinions expressed. He would ask the kids, “Why do you think your teacher is saying that?” He was so proud of raising good kids who were independent thinkers, and his joy was in attending their graduations and celebrating their accomplishments. You knew, however, that if you asked him his opinion, he would tell it to you straight albeit with a unique, charming southern twang! He was a lover of jazz and his vinyl collection. Many weekends you would find him listening with a book—often with a Manhattan in hand!

Richard passed away surrounded by all his children and Carolina. He had a beautiful mind and soul, and his passing has been a devastating loss for his family. He is survived by his beloved wife Carolina, their children, Adrienne (Michael), Peter (Teghan), Nicholas, Michael (Alexis), and Anna; his grandchildren, PJ and Isabel; his brothers, Donald (Bonnie) and Michael (Brenda); his sisters, Rosemary Walls Burnham (Robert) and Margaret Walls (Sean Collins); his uncle Bill Walls (Carol), his aunt LaJune Walls Jones, and his beloved nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Teddy K. and Frieda Brisley Walls.

In the words of Robert Frost - “Two roads diverged ... and I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference.”

If friends so desire memorial tributes may be made directly to the BEST in the West Student Awards, McGill University Advancement, 1430 Peel Street, Montreal, QC. H3A 3T3, Telephone: 1-800-567-5175, https://giving.mcgill.ca or the Calgary Police Youth Foundation, Calgary Police Youth Foundation, 5111 47 Street N.E Calgary, AB T3J 3R2, www.yycyouthfoundation.ca.

Funeral Services will be held at McInnis & Holloway (Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, AB) on Friday, September 15, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. Reception to follow in the Hospitality Centre at the Funeral Home. Family and friends who are unable to attend in person are invited to join Dr. Walls’ service streamed live (see below) on the day of the service. For those who are unable to view live, a recording of the service will be posted. Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Richard’s family here.

In living memory of Dr. Richard Walls, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, AB T2S 2L5, Telephone: 403-243-8200.

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