Walter Roy Trotter

Walter Roy Trotter was born in Los Angeles, California on January 6th, 1959, and spent his childhood in Santa Barbara. He graduated from Santa Barbara High School in 1977, where he was a proud “Don”, playing football and running track. From a young age, he was an avid musician, accomplished guitarist and songwriter, although he only wrote and played for his own enjoyment. Walt endured profound hearing loss his entire life, and learned to read lips and written words at a very young age. He was always seeking ways to hear people and music better. 

During summers in high school, Walt was proud to have exciting jobs through a job corps program. One placed him on a merchant marine vessel that traveled from California to New Orleans.  Another had him in skyscraper construction high above Los Angeles. After high school Walt took some courses at Santa Barbara City College where his father Bruce Trotter was a professor.  Later, he received certification from Arizona Automotive Institute with a specialization in heavy equipment and diesel mechanics. Walt was an expert in troubleshooting hydraulic and electrical systems. After finishing his certification, he got a job as a mechanic with Shasta Pools, a major Phoenix construction company. 

While in Arizona, Walt met his future wife, Lorraine Hayes, shortly before she was planning to move back to Colorado after an internship with the City of Mesa. To her delight, Walt followed her to Colorado, where they each lived from 1983 to 1985. During that time, Walt worked for Jefferson County Public Schools as a bus mechanic and Lorraine worked for the City of Boulder. In August 1985, Walt ended the courtship with Lorraine (“for courting too slow”) and moved back to Arizona where he worked as a mechanic for Mobile Mini Storage Systems, which was then a small start-up company. 

In October 1985, Walt got a call from Lorraine, who had come down to Phoenix to see him. By Christmas they were engaged. Walt and Lorraine married in September 1986 in Fort Collins, Colorado and moved to Mesa, Arizona. The next year they moved to the west side of the Phoenix valley when Walt got a job with Dysart Public Schools as a bus mechanic, and Lorraine worked for the City of Avondale.  

In 1991 the couple moved to Broomfield, Colorado when Lorraine got a job with the City of Englewood. Walt started his own company called Professional Fleet Management or “Pro Fleet.”  He offered specialized, on-site vehicle maintenance services to volunteer fire departments throughout Colorado and Wyoming, including Boulder Rural, Coal Creek, and Louisville Fire Protection Districts. This venture proved successful for many years.  During these marital years before children, Walt and Lorraine enjoyed many activities together, including dancing, bowling, camping, traveling, attending sporting events, and most of all, boating and waterskiing.   

Walt closed his business in the late 90’s after the birth of twins Tommy and Amelia in favor of a “normal job” as opposed to small business owner. As much as he liked being a mechanic (“We can fix anything!”), family members agree that Walt was a true family man during those years. Walt’s youngest son Gavin joined the family in 2004. 

Walt loved being a father, and was best at showing his love for his kids through playing. His children’s memories are crowded with happy images of playing games and sports, roughhousing, and being coached by Walt. He also always agreed to help with homework. The family took frequent trips together to Yellowstone National Park, California, and Walt’s favorite place, Lake Powell in southern Utah. 

Around the year 2000, Walt was asked back by Louisville Fire to provide the same services he once had, but as a full-time employee. He loved his job, and had many happy years managing their fleet of fire trucks and ambulances. Of the many vehicles and types of heavy duty equipment Walt worked on over the course of his career, fire trucks were his favorite because of the pride he had in the fire service, and the vehicles’ complexity, immaculate cleanliness, and organization. 

In 2001, Walt received bilateral cochlear implants, which opened up a whole new world of sounds for him. He could much more thoroughly enjoy and participate in conversations, music, entertainment, movies, sports, games, parties, and other everyday activities that many of us can take for granted.

Throughout his life, Walt was a “car guy” who loved fixing up sports cars as a hobby. He also maintained a love of boats and boating, and served as a featured commentator on the website Boatdoctor.com for many years. In addition, he loved, sports, music, reading, and learning about science, nature, technology and space. He had an excellent sense of humor, enjoyed reading the “funnies” on the weekends, and was always the first to make light of any situation. He never stayed angry for long, and could appreciate just about any joke. 

Walt is survived by his mother Patricia Behrends, his wife Lorraine Trotter, his three children Amelia Trotter, Thomas Trotter, and Gavin Trotter, his two sisters Jeanne Dobbins and Donna Trotter, his aunt Dotti Schloss, his nephew Jordan Hebert, his niece Hannah Seaman, and many other relatives and step-relatives. His family regrets that Walt died so young. His sense of humor, love of family, and dedication to country will always hold treasured places in their hearts.

Please direct any flowers to the church on Monday, November 8 by 10am.