The Greeley Tribune
October 05, 2005
Walter H. “Wally” Birlew, 77, of Gillette, Wyo., formerly of Greeley and Windsor, died Thursday, Sept. 22, at Campbell County Memorial Hospital in Gillette following a short illness.
He was born Oct. 30, 1927, at his parent’s home in Brighton to William R. and Margaret I. (Todd) Birlew.
He became an outstanding athlete, mainly in football and track, all through his school years and graduated in 1945 from Brighton High School at the age of 17. He convinced his mother to sign for him to join the Navy shortly after graduation. He served aboard the USSMount Katmai.
Mr. Birlew attended and played football at Mesa Junior College (now Mesa State) in Grand Junction, then transferred to the Colorado State College of Education (now the University of Northern Colorado). He was called up to serve in the Korean War, getting his notice on the first day of football practice.
He served his second hitch in the Navy aboard the aircraft carrier USS Essex, and returned to Greeley to pursue his love of coaching and teaching thanks to the GI Bill. He played for the Bears football team and earned his bachelor’s degree in 1956.
Mr. Birlew’s first coaching/ teaching job was in Center, where he met his wife, Claudette Framel. His next several years, following their marriage in 1958, were spent coaching and teaching in Dove Creek, Steamboat Springs and Sterling.
In 1974, Mr. Birlew received his master’s degree in educational administration at UNC in 1975.
He served two years as principal of the junior/senior high school in Akron. He then moved to Gypsum in 1977 to become principal of Eagle Valley Junior/Senior High School for five years. In 1982, he became assistant superintendent of auxiliary services for Eagle School District until ill health convinced him to take an early retirement in 1988.
Mr. Birlew remained in Gypsum until the fall of 1996 when he and Claudette moved to Windsor and became active in the First United Methodist Church. They divorced in 2002, and he moved to Greeley, then on to live with their son and family in Gillette.
In addition to having a deep love for his family, Mr. Birlew had a deep and abiding love for the Lord. He taught adult Sunday school and the World’s Great Religions classes and preached several times at Faith United Methodist Church in Sterling and the Community United Methodist churches in Gypsum and Eagle.
Mr. Birlew loved the mountains, spending time with family and friends, fishing and hunting. He enjoyed bowling and playing golf. He took up acrylic painting and won several blue ribbons at the Eagle County Fair. He was also a top-notch chess player.
Survivors are his ex-wife, Claudette of Evans; two daughters, Dianna of Denver and Sharon of Greeley; a son, Eric and wife Danielle of Gillette; five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; two nephews a 100-year-old aunt, Beulah (Boots); and several cousins.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the First United Methodist Church, 503 Walnut, in Windsor.
Memorial contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 607, Windsor, CO 80550.
Stevenson-Wilson Funeral Home in Gillette, Wyo., is in charge of arrangements.
He was born Oct. 30, 1927, at his parent’s home in Brighton to William R. and Margaret I. (Todd) Birlew.
He became an outstanding athlete, mainly in football and track, all through his school years and graduated in 1945 from Brighton High School at the age of 17. He convinced his mother to sign for him to join the Navy shortly after graduation. He served aboard the USSMount Katmai.
Mr. Birlew attended and played football at Mesa Junior College (now Mesa State) in Grand Junction, then transferred to the Colorado State College of Education (now the University of Northern Colorado). He was called up to serve in the Korean War, getting his notice on the first day of football practice.
He served his second hitch in the Navy aboard the aircraft carrier USS Essex, and returned to Greeley to pursue his love of coaching and teaching thanks to the GI Bill. He played for the Bears football team and earned his bachelor’s degree in 1956.
Mr. Birlew’s first coaching/ teaching job was in Center, where he met his wife, Claudette Framel. His next several years, following their marriage in 1958, were spent coaching and teaching in Dove Creek, Steamboat Springs and Sterling.
In 1974, Mr. Birlew received his master’s degree in educational administration at UNC in 1975.
He served two years as principal of the junior/senior high school in Akron. He then moved to Gypsum in 1977 to become principal of Eagle Valley Junior/Senior High School for five years. In 1982, he became assistant superintendent of auxiliary services for Eagle School District until ill health convinced him to take an early retirement in 1988.
Mr. Birlew remained in Gypsum until the fall of 1996 when he and Claudette moved to Windsor and became active in the First United Methodist Church. They divorced in 2002, and he moved to Greeley, then on to live with their son and family in Gillette.
In addition to having a deep love for his family, Mr. Birlew had a deep and abiding love for the Lord. He taught adult Sunday school and the World’s Great Religions classes and preached several times at Faith United Methodist Church in Sterling and the Community United Methodist churches in Gypsum and Eagle.
Mr. Birlew loved the mountains, spending time with family and friends, fishing and hunting. He enjoyed bowling and playing golf. He took up acrylic painting and won several blue ribbons at the Eagle County Fair. He was also a top-notch chess player.
Survivors are his ex-wife, Claudette of Evans; two daughters, Dianna of Denver and Sharon of Greeley; a son, Eric and wife Danielle of Gillette; five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; two nephews a 100-year-old aunt, Beulah (Boots); and several cousins.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the First United Methodist Church, 503 Walnut, in Windsor.
Memorial contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 607, Windsor, CO 80550.
Stevenson-Wilson Funeral Home in Gillette, Wyo., is in charge of arrangements.
