Walter Lynn Chamliss October 5, 1934 ~ December 5, 2020 (age 86)

Obituary

Graveside services for Walter Chambliss, 86, of Portales, will be held at 2:00 PM, Fri., Dec. 11, 2020 in the Portales Cemetery with Rev. Randy Rankin officiating.  All of Walter’s grandchildren will serve as honorary pallbearers.

Walter Lynn Chambliss was born Oct. 5, 1934, in Lynn County, TX to the home of Kittie (Perdue) and Leonard Chambliss and died Dec. 5, 2020 in Portales, NM.  The Chambliss family moved to San Angelo, TX at the beginning of his sixth grade year.  Walter graduated from San Angelo High School in 1954.  He went on to attend Pharmacy School in Austin.  In May of 1958, he was drafted into the US Army.  He graduated from Pharmacy School in Dec. 1958, and began his active duty.  During his time of service, he was stationed in Korea.

Upon his discharge, he returned and worked in pharmacies in Lubbock Muleshoe and Childress, before settling in Portales in 1964.  He began working at the B&J Drug, and eventually purchased the store.  In 1993, he sold the business to Van Winkle’s IGA, and moved the store to the food market where he continued as manager until his retirement in 2007.

Walter was a longtime member of the First Baptist Church.  He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather.  For relaxation, Walter enjoyed hunting, fishing and camping.  He also liked target shooting and archery, as well as doing some word-working, and running his little farm by his house.

He is survived by Frances, his wife of more than 65 years; three daughters, Sharon Chacon of Portales, Lynn Chambliss of Alamogordo, NM and Susan Chambliss of Clovis; ten grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren; and a brother, Larry Chambliss of Onalaska, TX.  He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Eugene Chambliss and Malcolm Homer Chambliss and an infant sister.