Walter Chris VonGunten Jr.

Walter C. VonGunten Jr. passed on July 13th 2025, at age 87. Walt was born on November 11, 1937, in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, to his mother, Mary VonGunten (nee Ley), and father, Walter C. VonGunten Sr. His parents raised him in Cuyahoga Falls, and, being an only child, they had their hands full with his “need for speed” around town. Unfortunately, his multiple speeding tickets and drag racing days landed him a weekend in “the workhouse.”

Although his dad was an avid fisherman, golfer, and bowler, Walt enjoyed this time with his dad but truly never picked up the interest. But he did have a love for baseball and football, which led him to be a long-time coach and leader within the Cuyahoga Falls community. His tenacity to get a traveling youth baseball team led him to start and coach the State Road Shopping Center baseball team. The team had many wins and championships throughout his coaching years. Walt was inducted into the Cuyahoga Falls Amateur Baseball Association Hall of Fame as a coach.

He then moved into coaching football for the Little Black Tigers, where his winning records led him to higher roles within the league as the Director and President and eventually, a national win in Daytona Beach. His coaching skills were well known throughout Cuyahoga Falls, and some of his favorite years were when he was coaching his own sons or coaching with them. He was an amazing coach, albeit tough, but all the players loved him and the many championships that he led them to. His leadership and investment in fundraisers ensured the teams could travel to playoff games and get the trophies that they all deserved. His coaching was legendary throughout Cuyahoga Falls, with some of his young players moving on to play sports in college and even the NFL. Into his last months, his players from years ago still addressed him as “Coach.” His leadership didn’t stop on the field, and he opened his home to players that needed extra support or rescued from a difficult situation. In Walt’s later years, he became an ardent Fantasy Football participant, enabling him to utilize his lifetime of sports knowledge to finish with high scores each season.

His constant love of cars and his logistical expertise transitioned him into his lifetime careers in Supply Chain for Firestone, a driver’s education trainer, and a full-time bus driver for the Cuyahoga Falls school system until his retirement. Walt made sure that everyone in the family was a respectful driver and knew how to read a map, and he ensured that his daughters were three of the few girls around town who could drive a manual stick shift. Walt’s uncanny sense of direction could get the family anywhere at any time.

Walt was a father to five sons and three daughters in his lifetime, who he loved to spend quality time with for any reason possible, or no reason at all – holidays, birthdays, random restaurant dinners, all Cleveland sporting events, Ohio State football games, and, his later-in-life obsession, the Seattle Seahawks. Walt loved the ocean and had a special place in his heart for Florida. He made sure that no matter what was happening, a family beach trip was on the agenda.

Through Walt’s life, he had many friends and left a memorable mark on everyone – whether it was a witty one liner, his genuine interest in learning about someone, or just his true empathy for others.

But Walt’s life truly started on June 4th 1983, when he met the love of his life, Vivian, at a Parents Without Partners event. In his cowboy hat, a spitting image of Gerald McRaney (Simon & Simon), he saw her from across the room and said, “I’m dancing with her.” Vivian, at her very first Parents Without Partners event, was also looking at Walt. Later, she had a chuckle when she saw Walt walking toward her on the dance floor. Committed to getting that dance in, Walt sauntered over and cut right in on another gentleman’s dance, and the first dance of many were to follow for Vivian and Walt. Walt called her immediately the next day, knowing this was the one, and he was right, as their love affair and friendship spanned for 42 years.

If you were fortunate enough to see Walt and Vivian together, you saw a true love story of two best friends who laughed daily. Walt and Vivian were an amazing, beautiful, loving, and selfless team, becoming a true Hallmark love story, just like the shows they both loved watching. Walt’s fearlessness led Vivian to adventures she’d never thought would happen in her life. These ranged from roller coasters at amusement parks, cross-country train rides to see their daughters in Seattle, and numerous vacations to their favorite place, Anna Maria Island in Florida.

Walt is preceded in death by his parents (Mary and Walter C. VonGunten Sr); his three sons, Walter Chris VonGunten III, Scott Jones, and Craig VonGunten; and great granddaughter, Nyla VonGunten.

Survived by wife Vivian VonGunten (nee Griffin); sons Curtis VonGunten (Laurie) and Mark Jones (Sandra); daughters Victoria VonGunten Tilghman (Eric), Nici Lucas (Kurt Liston), and Andi Lucas (Zach Robinson); daughters-in-law Loretta VonGunten and Margaret VonGunten; 14 grandchildren; and 13 great grandchildren.

The family would like to thank all the staff at Bath Creek Estates for their warm and caring support.

Visiting hours will be at Clifford Funeral Home in Cuyahoga Falls on Saturday, July 19th from 11am – 12pm. A funeral service will follow.