Michael Robert ‘Mickey’ Walch

Bus driver, 52Michael Robert “Mickey” Walch, 52, of Astoria, died Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2003 in Portland.

Mr. Walch was born Dec. 28, 1951 in Glendale, Calif., to Wilbur F. and Mary Lorraine Russell Walch. He attended school in the San Fernando Valley in California.

He began his career as a truck driver. He moved to Salt Lake City and worked as a bus driver for the Utah Transit Authority for eight years. In 1980, he began driving for Greyhound Bus Lines and moved to Tigard in 1985. He became a driving instructor for Greyhound in 1994 and was a shop steward with the Amalgamated Transit Union. He retired in 1997 and moved with his family to Astoria in 2002.

Family members said he loved tinkering on his 1997 Town Car, chauffeuring his friends around and making them laugh. His family was everything to him, they said.

Mr. Walch is survived by his wife, Beckie Walch of Astoria; two daughters, Tricia Walch of Astoria and Ann Marie Walch-Hyatt of Las Vegas, Nev.; a son and daughter-in-law, Christopher and Donna Walch of Exeter, England; and a granddaughter, Madison Lynn Walch of Exeter.

Visitation is noon to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at St. Mary, Star of the Sea Catholic Church.

A funeral is 2 p.m. Tuesday at St. Mary, Star of the Sea, followed by interment at Ocean View Cemetery in Warrenton.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Mickey Walch Memorial Fund, in care of Caldwell’s Luce-Layton Mortuary, 1165 Franklin Ave., Astoria, OR 97103.