KINGSDOWN – Charles Walter Couch, son of Harry and Alice (Padgett) Couch, passed away on July 22, 2021 at the age of 83. He grew up on a farm south of Kingsdown and attended the Kingsdown schools, graduating in 1956. He then attended Kansas State and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture in 1960. While a Kansas State he was on the wrestling team and lettered three years.

Following college, he joined the United States Marine Corps and became a Fighter Pilot. After four years active duty he continued to fly for the Marine Corps another 20 years in the Reservices and achieved the rank of Lt. Colonel. After active duty he moved to Manhattan Beach, California and began his near 30-year career as a commercial airline pilot for TWA.

After a time in Manhattan Beach, he bought a grape vineyard in the Napa Valley and moved to St. Helena. Always interested in improving the land he tore out the old vineyard and played a new one. It was also here he began calf roping and team roping and running cattle in the Napa Valley, all the while continuing his flying career with the Marine Corps and TWA.

In 1987 he sold the vineyard and bought the ranch that adjoined the family farm and moved back to his roots in Kansas. He continued his flying career with TWA, flying as captain internationally to Europe and Asia until retiring in 1992.

He maintained his lifelong interest in aviation and built his own plane in 2005. He also put in a hangar and runways at the ranch and made many cross-country trips in his homebuilt airplane.

Walter was a man with many interests and talents. He loved to calf rope and team rope and put in roping arenas in the Napa Valley and at the Couch Ranch where he raised Corriente roping cattle.

He had a lifelong interest in history and served on the Ashland Pioneer Museum Board, Boot Hill Museum Board, Kansas Cowboy Hall of Fame Committee, Western Cattle Trail Association, Santa Fe Trail Association, and the Dodge City Drovers. He was inducted into the Kansas Cowboy Hall of Fame in the historian category in 2020.

On February 14, 2004 he married Karla Kirk Luft. He was preceded in death by his parents and step-granddaughter, Kiana Luft.

Survivors include his wife, two step children, John Luft of Taylor, Utah, Lana Luft of Villa Rica, Georgia and a step-granddaughter, Kaisha Marlow of Sandy Springs, Georgia.

A celebration of life will be held on November 12, 2021 at the Boot Hill Museum from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm with special memories at 5:00 pm.

Memorials may be made to the Boot Hill Museum, Humane Society or Donor's Choice.