In Memory ~ Oxford, Walt

 

WALTER "Walt" CECIL OXFORD

October 10, 1943 - July 25, 2022

78, U S Army Veteran, of Waxahachie, TX (formerly of DeSoto) passed away on July 25, 2022.

Walter Oxford, 78, U S Army Veteran, of Waxahachie, TX (formerly of DeSoto) also lovingly known as Walt, Wally, Papa, and Grandpa, passed away on July 25, 2022.

He was predeceased by his mother, Margaret Cecil.

He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Margaret (Maggie), his sister, Rosemary, his children Eric and his wife Donice; Brec and his wife Sherry; Marc and his wife Erin, nephews Steve and his wife Steph; Jeff and his wife Kathleen; grandchildren Erin, Travis, Brittany, Chad, James, Andrew, Tyler, Cohen, and Cameron; and great-grandchildren Nathan, Nolan, Adalynn, Emersyn, Riley, Leonardo, Donte, as well as numerous cousins and extended family.

Wally was born in Alliance, Nebraska where he grew up alongside his loving younger sister, Rosemary.  He spent his summers as a young man working on various ranches throughout the area. He graduated from the University of Nebraska with an architectural engineering focus where he played basketball and graduated with a degree in computer science. 

Wally later went on to serve as a captain in the United States Army and spent over 13+ years serving his country. After the Army, he went into the IT department at a bank in Lincoln, NE where he met the love of his life, Maggie.  The Lone Star state called his name in 1977, he proposed putting a ring on her finger, and they moved south.  He then managed the computer software international sales division at several different software companies and traveled internationally for 20+ years. After a successful career in the world of computers, he fully switched his focus to what mattered most – family, farming, church, and their Shih Tzus.  He was a devoted member of the United Methodist Church of DeSoto where he served wholeheartedly in many different capacities. He enjoyed playing golf, going on cruises, reading books, working with his registered quarter horses, eventually raising Brangus cattle, and the farm life they built together.

The word “cancer” entered our lives in 2017, and Walt fought tirelessly until the very end.  We will always love you Walter, Walt, Wally, Papa, Grandpa, and Dad!

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the FUMC DeSoto Endowment Funds or a charity of your choice.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the First United Methodist Church - DeSoto.  Interment, with Military Honors, will follow in the Dallas/Ft. Worth National Cemetery.  Date and times will be posted when secured.

young "Walt"

1961 graduation picture

Information in our 50th class reunion booklet:

Oxford, Walt

Spouse ~ Maggie

401 Vineyard View Lane

Waxahachie, TX  75165

972-449-3136, cell~214-850-0957

wcoxford@hotmail.com

C ~ Three boys ~ Eric, Brec, Marc

G ~ Seven boys and one girl

G² ~ Two boys

2011

I went to UNL directly out of high school.  I started out majoring in architecture and later switched to Computer Science.  I lived in Lincoln for 10+ years.  My big break was while working at First National Bank where I was in charge of implementing a General Ledger package purchased from University Computing Co. (UCC) in Dallas, TX.  The implementation went extremely well and due to the close relationship I established with their software developers, UCC made me an offer I could not refuse and thus, I relocated to Dallas.  Convincing Maggie to follow me to Dallas, as she put it “will take a ring”.  (Best decision I ever made!)

I later left UCC with some other employees and we started Hogan Systems.  Our goal was to build a large bank back office system.  We started up targeting banks with over $1 billion in assets.  Hogan Systems went public in the early 1980’s.  I stayed with Hogan Systems for 12+ years as Vice President and General Manager of International Operations.  The President of Hogan Systems subsequently left to head up another software company and, again, I received an offer I couldn’t refuse and assumed responsibility for International Operations at Shared Financial Systems.  I traveled worldwide for 15+ years including the Pacific Rim, Latin America and Europe.  I have been very blessed having worked and resided in most countries around the world.

Five years ago, I had plans to retire, but our youngest son bought a shipping and packing franchise and needed help in designing crates to ship axels for the Army’s trucks in Afghanistan.  I designed and built 40+ crates and then stayed on to oversee the operations division for him.  With all of this, I still attained the rank of Captain in the US Army, which I am very proud of.  Our oldest grandson is presently stationed in Iraq.  My passion is golf, playing with my best buddy, Baxter (our Shih Tzu puppy), and going on cruises with Maggie.