Bruce (Butch) David Walston, age 81, passed away Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at Grant Medical Center, following a two-year battle with cancer.
He was a very hard-working and dedicated man to his work and to his family and friends. He spent his entire life working with his hands, and willing to help anyone. He could fix anything. He retired from the City of Columbus in 2012 after 18 years of service as a mechanic, spending his last years working on the Police Motorcycle unit. Prior to that, he spent more than 30 years working as a mechanic at various dealerships around Columbus, including owning his own shop and gas station. As a young man he took up his lifelong hobby of riding and working on Harley Davidson motorcycles. Even after retirement, he worked on dozens of motorcycles. He was a member and past president of the Sprockets Motorcycle club for over 30 years and a previous member of the Golden Arrow Motorcycle club, where he would ride across the country with his fellow members as often as possible, including to major rallies in Washington DC and Sturgis South Dakota. In his youth, he was an avid drag racer, traveling to many competitions to race his Corvette, and being featured in magazines at the time. His love of cars and motorcycles would see him frequent shows as often as he could to see other people's projects. He had a lifelong love of sports, specifically football, basketball, wrestling, and baseball, and loved routing for The Ohio State Buckeyes and the Philadelphia Eagles most of all. He was also very proud of his lawn and strived to keep it the best in the neighborhood. We find comfort in knowing that his legacy lives through the lessons he taught us, the love he shared, and the memories we will cherish forever.
He is survived by his loving wife of nearly 61 years, Norma Walston (Ruppe); His sisters, Marylyn (Buddy) Oldem, and Roberta Patten; his in-laws Ray (Becky) Ruppe, Edna Rusty (Larry) Miller; his children, David (Dawn) Walston, Tamla (Jeff) Freeman, Kelly Martincic, Sara (Lance) Walston, and Margaret (Kris) Silas; his grandchildren, Jonathan Walston, Jordan Walston, Landon Walston, Zachary (Jolene) Thompson, Cameron (Meridyth) Walston, Jeffrey (Tana) Freeman, Timothy (Kindra) Freeman, Kelly Cain, Kara Hodges, Kolayah (Amber) Martincic, Sierra (Daniel Howell) Walston, and Dakota Silas; his great grandchildren, Zachary Thompson, Clara Walston, Celeste Walston, Silas Hodges, Killian Hodges, Zaylee Martincic, Libby Howell, James Howell, Samantha Howell, Dean Howell, Gracie Freeman, Bralen Freeman, Talia Freeman, and Tony Balkus; in addition to his many nieces and nephews, other loving family members, and his close friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joan Marlow and Clarence Walston; his uncle Bobby Walston; his sisters, Patricia Wright, Betty Klein, and Ruthann Walston; his brother, Robert West, his in-law Sally Mourcade; Niece Kimberely Mourcade:
A memorial service will be held on Friday, March 27, 2026, at Evans Funeral Home, 4171 E. Livingston Avenue, where friends may call from 12:00 PM until 2:00 PM with the Funeral following time of service, commencing at Obetz Cemetery, 4455 Groveport Road. Special thank you to the staff at Grant Medical Center ICU Department and Columbus Oncology and Hematology for their dedicated care to Butch, specifically to Dr. Jarred Burkart and Jen Seiler, CNP whom oversaw his cancer treatment.