It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our loving father Walter Raymond Tavis on 4-16-20 after a long illness. He was surrounded by his three daughters at the time of his passing. Walter was born in Huntington Park, California, on December 21, 1938.
After graduating Huntington Park High School in 1956, Walter followed his older brother to Stanford University, where he soon discovered it was a little too tame for his taste. He then followed his middle brother to the University of Southern California, transferring to USC his sophomore year. There Walter found a home, where he made lifelong friends and became a dedicated Trojan! He was involved in the Ventura County Trojan Club for many years and rarely missed a USC football game. Fight on, Walter!
After graduating from USC with a degree in business and finance, Walter took a job with the Ventura County Assessor’s office and began his successful career as a real estate appraiser. He worked there a short time, then left there to open his own appraisal company in Ventura. He then obtained his Member Appraisal Institute (MAI) designation and worked as an independent MAI real estate appraiser until his retirement at the age of 60. He was a hard worker and a strong business man.
Walter loved hiking, skiing, and travel. He also loved to cook, listen to music, and especially loved to dance! He traveled the world extensively with each of his daughters. Some of his hiking milestones included Mt. Whitney, Mt. Kilimanjaro, and Machu Picchu. Walter was an avid skier. His favorite place was his condo in Kirkwood, California, and then later in Mammoth Lakes. He was at his happiest packing as many of us as he could into his condo and skiing with his daughters and multiple nieces and nephews – especially during March Madness. His thinking was, “The more, the merrier.” These family ski trips brought him so much joy, and he left us all with the best memories! He was so much fun and loved to have a good time! Family was the most important thing to him. He was definitely the glue of the family and was loved by all. He will live on in our hearts forever.
Walter was preceded in death by his parents Frederick and Helen Tavis and his oldest brother Paul Tavis. He is survived by his brother Richard Tavis, his daughter Laura Frost (Tim), daughter Kathryn Tavis-Olson (Wes), daughter Anne Vie (David), and grandchildren Camryn Frost, Miriam Vie, and Reid Vie, and numerous nieces and nephews, whom he loved dearly. Due to COVID-19, Walter was laid to rest in a private burial ceremony at Ivy Lawn Cemetery, where he joined his brother and parents. We want to acknowledge and thank Wellness Care Senior Living at Ojai and their staff for their kind and compassionate care of Walter during his stay.
Dad, may you rest in peace, and may you feel the love of the Lord and the beauty of Heaven and the love of your family always.
Arrangements are under the direction of the JOSEPH P. REARDON FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICE, Ventura.