Funeral arrangements for Kettering hiker found dead after suspected flash flooding in Utah

SIDNEY — The funeral arrangements for a Kettering man found dead after hiking in southern Utah earlier this month have been announced.

Funeral services for 72-year-old John Walter will be held Monday, June 5 at noon. Services will be held at Cromes-Edwards Funeral Home in Sidney, where Walter previously lived. Burial will follow the services at Shelby Memory Gardens, also in Sidney.

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Walter was identified with Gary York, 65, of West Chester, as the two hikers found in Buckskin Gulch in Kane County, Utah after a multi-day search, a sheriff’s office spokesperson said in a media release posted to social media.

Buckskin Gulch is located on the Utah, Arizona state line and is about 60 miles north of Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona.

Walter’s daughter and York’s niece Corey Messer told News Center 7 that the two men decided to a trip after the death of her mother in April.

“Mom’s passing was hard and at the same time, it kind of relieved dad to live the life that he had planned ever since retirement several years ago,” Messer said.

So Walter and York decided to go on a “trip of a lifetime” she said.

They planned to go hiking for 11 days across four separate states.

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Walter’s family said they last heard from him on May 20 and a search started for the men the next day when search and rescue teams were notified another hiking group found a body, The body was first unidentified but launched a joint investigation between officials in Arizona and Utah, the spokesperson said.

Pictures provided by the family later identified the first body recovered was that of York, Walter’s body was found that Monday.

Officials believe a flash flood swept both men away and led to their deaths.

“The authorities in Utah did explain, no, you don’t know when flash floods are going to happen there could be a storm 20 miles out and you don’t have any idea and then it’s there, and they said it’s silent. There’s no rushing, there’s no waves, and you don’t even know it’s there until it’s there,” Messer said.

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