Raymond Wallen

Raymond James Wallen, 86, of Fort Collins,passed away on July 24, 2007. He was born on Feb. 10, 1921, in Independence, Kan., toHarry R. and Eva Ethel Adams Wallen. At the age of 2 or 3, he was already riding his father's ponies. He was Roman racing and jumpingstanding on as many as three horses as young as 15 years old. As a young boy, the family moved to Sioux City, Iowa, where he trained horses for the famous Shriner's White Horse Mounted Patrol with his father and brothers. Ray served for more than 20 years in the cavalry of the Army, including a tour with the 10th Mountain Division in Italy during World War II. He also served in Germany andTurkey, trained at Camp Hale and was stationed at Fort Carson. He taught soldiers how to pack mules, train the horses to do tricks, and gave riding instructions. He also served as a member of the Colorado Mounted Rangers, a civil defense organization that performed search and rescue missions in the mountains. He moved to Hamilton, Mont., for several years, where he continued his horse training and equitation lessons for many lucky people, both young and old. There he also learned to ski at quite a ripe age. He never let age stop him from enjoying something new. His life was devoted to training horses to do amazing tricks even sitting up like a dog, and teaching people to ride, jump and train their own horses. He was a true "horse whisperer." He won so many blue ribbons in competitions and accomplished so much, it is nearly impossible to list them all. He was constantly trying to do somethingkind for someone else: welcoming someone new, leaving a candy trail, dropping pennies for the kids to find, reciting poems for all to hear, giving time, gifts,or money to those who needed it. We who knew him arehonored to call him father, brother, grandpa, uncle, "Baba," teacher, and friend. He will be loved and missed by us all. He is survived bydaughter Suzyand husband Mike Salazar of Windsor;daughter Carol J. and husband Mike Parkerof Colorado Springs;son R. Owenand wife Geni Wallen of Woodland Park; sister BernadineBovee and partner Stanley Gillespiee of La Peer, Mich.; twin brotherRichardand wife Marilyn Wallen of Sioux City, Iowa; fivegrandchildren; five step-grandchildren;four great-grandchildren; and a very dear friend, Ann Materasso, of Berthoud. He was preceded in death bythree brothers, Vernon Wallen, Darrell Wallen, and Carl Wallen;andfour sisters, Dorris Cunka, Louise Kelley, Mary Virginia Snyder and Thelma O'dell. Ray always insisted that no one be sad at his passing on to the next life, but to be happy for the time we had together. A celebration of life ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, July 30, 2007, at the Front Range Baptist Church, 625 E. Harmony Road in Fort Collins. A horse-drawn carriage will take him to his interment at the Lakeview Cemetery in Windsor. Military honors will be conducted by the All Fort Collins Veterans Honor Guard. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be madein the name of Ray Wallen to Hearts & Horses, P.O. Box 2675, Loveland, CO 80539, 970-663-4200. Friends may contact the family at bohlenderfuneralchapel.com.