Anthony J. Walvoord (1884-1945)

Anthony J. Walvoord
Anthony J. Walvoord

Anthony, the eleventh child of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Walvoord, was born on November 11, 1884 in Cedar Grove. According to Anthony’s daughter, Kathryn, the “J.” middle initial in his name doesn’t stand for anything. Anthony just added it to differentiate himself from another Anthony Walvoord who lived in the area.He graduated from Sheboygan High School in 1903. In his high school days he was an active participant in football and basketball and a member of the debating team.

He entered the University of Wisconsin at Madison in the Fall of 1904. He played basketball for the university team for three years (1905, 1906, 1907) as a forward. Anthony was the first student from Sheboygan to be awarded the official “W” from the University of Wisconsin. In his senior year he was no longer eligible to play, so he played with the Portage city team.

Anthony Walvoord played Forward for this University of Wisconsin Basketball Team. He is seated far left. His nickname was “County.”

Anthony graduated from the School of Commerce in 1908. For many years while living in Milwaukee he was a purchasing agent for the Federal Rubber Tire Co. of Cudahy.

In October of 1911 he married Ann Vogt of Milwaukee. Anthony made his home in Milwaukee until, in February of 1939, when they moved to San Francisco, California.

Willard and Kathryn Walvoord about 1917

Anthony and Ann had two children: Willard Anthony and Kathryn Louise.

Willard Anthony Walvoord was born in Milwaukee on May 27, 1912. On April 18, 1936, Willard married Grace Eleanor Devine in her hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Grace was born January 2, 1911. Willard and Grace had four children: Annette Louise, was born March 19, 1941. Anthony “Tony” John, was born March 7, 1943. John Christian, was born September 18, 1946. Dirk Frederick was born April 11, 1949. Annette and Tony were both born in Ottawa, Illinois. John and Dirk were both born in San Francisco.

Willard died in El Monte, California on March 31, 1986. Grace died August 18, 1993 in Arcadia, California. They are both buried in the Walvoord Cemetery at Cedar Grove.

Kathryn Louise Walvoord, also a native of Milwaukee, was born on October 7, 1915. She never married. She was a member of Old First Presbyterian Church in San Francisco where she lived until her death on May 23, 2002.

Anthony died from a heart condition on August 31, 1945 in San Francisco at the age of sixty. His wife Ann died in San Francisco, California at the age of 85 on May 9, 1972. They are also both buried in the Walvoord Cemetery at Cedar Grove.

Updated: May 31, 2020 — 12:50 PM