Obituary of Walter Dumbaugh

Walter “Skip” Dunbaugh, 87, passed away peacefully with his family at his side on August 4, 2018. Born in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Skip moved to Palo Alto when he was 18 with his parents, Walter and Kathryn Dunbaugh. Walter met the love of his life, Bette Griffin at a dance at the Mountain View Youth Center while still in High School. With their love of dancing, they often drove to Santa Cruz to dance with the Big Bands playing at the Coconut Grove, and would sneak in through the back gate to the Pink Horse Ranch in Los Altos.

While a senior in high school Skip joined the Marines alongside four of his school buddies. After his honorable discharge, Skip married Bette on February 24, 1952 in Mountain View, California. From there Skip and Bette traveled to South Dakota, returning to California to raise their family. Skip joined General Electric shortly after their return. He went on to become an expert welder specializing in joining exotic metals and opened a welding lab and training facility for the company. Skip's welding specialty was in the construction of huge stainless steel nuclear vessels. There was no room for any welding flaw and Skip traveled internationally working on these massive projects for General Electric.

Skip retired from General Electric after over 30 years of service. He enjoyed a life of fishing the Monterey Bay, building a log cabin in the high Sierras, and enjoying the love of his family. He is survived by his wife Bette and brother Mark, four children; Mike, Rebecca, Bradley, and Beth Ann, and his 9 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

At Skip’s request, a scattering of ashes at sea will take place from the O’Neill Catamaran at 10 am Saturday September 29, 2018. A celebration of his life will follow, attended by close family and friends. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, any donations in his name be made to the charity of choice.