A Memorial Celebration for the Life of M. Douglas Walton, 81, of Ruston, LA will be Saturday, June 8, 2024, 2:00 PM – 4:00 P.M.  at the Davison Athletics Complex (DAC) located at the south end of the Louisiana Tech University football stadium, under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Homes in Ruston, LA.

Douglas was born on June 23, 1942, raised in Carmen, OK.  He died peacefully in Ruston, LA on April 5, 2024.  He is preceded in death by his parents Melvin and Leota Walton.

Doug lived in his own little world as a child.  He had a speech problem no one could solve.  His mother and father sold their family restaurant when Doug was sixteen and moved to Wichita, Kansas to send him to the Institute of Logopedics, now known as Heartspring.  He was educated in public schools and graduated in Architecture from Oklahoma State University earning the Schools’ Prestigious Silver Medal of Excellence in Architecture. After college, he was employed with Haas and Massey and Associates, Architects in Shreveport, LA.

Louisiana Tech University needed an architecture teacher in the Fall.  He took the opportunity, thinking he would have summers to paint.  At that time, he was a student of Edgar Whitney, the father of American Watercolor. Whitney would later pass the teaching torch to Douglas.  He has taught more artists who have gone on to teach themselves.

He traveled extensively, teaching on LA Tech Rome Summer trips, 2 years.  He has been to Bali, Indonesia 30 times, to Europe, Morocco, Egypt, Mexico, Peru, Cambodia, Guatemala, and South Africa.

In April of 2015, he was in the Nepal Earthquake with 15 students.  That experience changed his life.

In June 2022, he celebrated his 80^th Birthday and 50 years of teaching.  His teaching experiences were more than workshops…..the students named them “encounters”.  Accomplished artists came to Ruston since 1977 to seek Douglas unique teaching and critique; unlike anyone else.

He had the ability to bring a student to their highest potential.  Instilling in them their ability and confidence – excellence.  He strived to help each one find their unique voice.

Doug will always be remembered for his amazing ability to critique works, to encourage, and to tell stories.  He was entertaining, on the cutting edge, reaching higher, caring for his students.  He was an amazing and exceptional teacher, was very compassionate in helping his students grow to their maximum potential in painting as well as helping them to gain greater self-confidence and self-esteem.  His teaching of painting had become his vehicle to enable students to get in touch with who they are and what they can become.

Doug is survived by many. His art community is his legacy.  They are Family!!

An appropriate tribute will be dedicated to this life lived to the fullest.

Online condolences may be sent to www.kilpatrickfuneralhomes.com.