Sublette - Harold Wayne Walter passed away on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, in Ocala, Florida. He was born August 16, 1934, in Dodge City, Kansas to Maebelle Wyzone Shuman and Harold Charles Walter.

Wayne grew up in Sublette and graduated from Sublette High School in 1952. He continued his education at Garden City Community College and moved on to graduate from Colorado State University, where he played football as a running back and outside linebacker. Wayne married Barbara Elaine Kubiak on July 28, 1957. They made their home in Sublette, Kansas, and were married for 47 years. He later married Betty Jean Johnsen on June 14, 2006. They made their home in Ocala, Florida and were married for 18 years.

Wayne began his career as the freshmen football coach for Colorado State University. He then taught Industrial Arts and coached football and track and field in Eaton, Colorado. After this, he taught and coached at Sublette High School, where he led the mighty Larks to a 1968 undefeated league championship.

Following his tenure in education, Wayne owned and operated a 1000 head farrow-to-finish hog farm. During these years, he served as president of the Kansas Pork Producers Council, president of the National Pork Producers Council, chairman of the Meat Export Federation, director of the National Live Stock and Meat Board. He also served in various roles for the Chicago Board of Trade, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, the National Agriculture Forum, and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. As part of his duties with the National Pork Producers Council, he served the Agricultural Advisory Board for Presidents Ronald Regan and Jimmy Carter. His work with the Meat Export Federation often took him overseas to countries such as Russia, China, and Japan.

After retiring from the pork industry, Wayne returned to coaching, serving Sublette High School as Athletic Director and football and track and field coach and then Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas, as the football team's backfield coach.

Wayne was a lifelong disciple of Jesus Christ and was often described as joyful. He read the Bible daily, and he served God's kingdom as a deacon, an elder, a teacher, a prayer warrior, and a handyman.

Wayne is survived by his second wife, Betty Walter; children from his first marriage, son Brad Walter and his wife Karen Walter, and daughter, Kristi Walter; grandchildren Garrett Walter, Brock Walter, Molly Koehn, Rachel Kirmer, Eric Rojas, and Aaron Rojas; and eight great grandchildren. Wayne is preceded in death by his first wife (d. 2004), his parents, and his brother Jerry Jay Walter.

A Celebration of Life service will be at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, July 12, 2024, at the Sublette Christian Church with Pastor David Erwin officiating. Interment will be at the Haskell County Cemetery. Memorial contributions can be made to the Sublette High School Athletic Department or to Southwest Christian Church in Ocala, Florida, in care of Swaim Funeral Chapel, PO Box 607, Sublette, Kansas 67877. Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guest book at www.swaimfuneralhome.com.