WALLINGFORD, Earle G., III

Arizona Daily Sun, Flagstaff, AZ Thursday, September 16, 2010 Earle G. Wallingford III, 66, of Kansas City, Utah, Montana, Austria, France and finally Flagstaff, died Thursday, Aug. 19, 2010. Mr. Wallingford was born in Kansas City, Mo., in 1943, the second of four boys. His earliest years were spent in Bartlesville, Okla., but he was raised primarily in the Kansas City area. He attended primary school in Shawnee Mission, Kan., and later Olathe, Kan. High school was completed at Pembroke Country Day, Kansas City. Mr. Wallingford, a deep thinker even as child, had a talent for seeing life from a unique and profound perspective. The more complicated the task, the more he excelled. As technology advanced and household gadgets became more complicated, it was Mr. Wallingford's task in the family to figure them out and teach the rest. He was married twice. His first marriage was to Yvonne Baskin; that marriage ended in 1976. He later married Golde Springer; that marriage ended in 1988. No children resulted from either marriage. Mr. Wallingford's advanced education included undergraduate studies at Colorado College and the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) before attending the University of Kansas, where in 1966 he received his Bachelor of Arts in psychology. In 1971, he received his Master of Arts in psychology from UMKC, after which he spent three years doing doctorate level research and training in neurology at Duke University. While at Duke University, Mr. Wallingford published papers on visual neurology and created computer models of the brain-eye pathway. Later in life, he went on to study subjects as varied as plant biology, evolutionary biology, agriculture, physics and astronomy at Utah State, Weber State and Montana State universities. Mr. Wallingford's life after college reflected his varied interests. Success as a farmer and as an investor allowed him to follow his life's passions. Foreign languages and cultures, biology of human evolution and the natural world, computer programming, photography, astronomy, health and fitness, and financial investment models were just some of his interests. His enthusiasm for languages and culture lead him to live in Austria and France. While living six years between the two countries, he became literate and conversant in German and French while immersing himself in the cultures. His interests in biology, psychology and astronomy culminated in the writing of a book titled "Models in the Mind: The History of Human Consciousness" (1999). Along with activities related to the above interests, distance running, downhill and cross country skiing, rock climbing, biking and especially long-distance hiking were his favorite hobbies. He was never satisfied with a superficial understanding or involvement in any endeavor and that included his hobbies. An example of this was hiking. The love of hiking and nature lead him to Arizona and the Grand Canyon. He hiked the wilds of Arizona regularly for the last 12 years of his life. This included completing the arduous 43-mile, non-stop rim-to-rim-to- rim Grand Canyon hike more than 50 times. Mr. Wallingford was a generous giver, who regularly donated to numerous charities including Amnesty International, Arizona Trail Association, Grand Canyon Trust, Mercy Corp, Museum of Northern Arizona, National Park Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, Second Chance Center for Animals -- Flagstaff, SETI Institute, Western National Park Foundation, Yellowstone Association and Yellowstone Park Foundation. Mr. Wallingford is survived by his brother, Steven M. Wallingford of Bozeman, Mont.; 11 nieces and nephews; and nine great-nieces and great-nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Earle G. Wallingford Jr.; mother Claire L Wallingford; and brothers Thomas C. Wallingford and George W. Wallingford. At Mr. Wallingford's request, there will be no services. Memorial donations to any of the charities mentioned above are welcome. Condolences can be sent to www.norvelowensmortuary.com. Norvel Owens Mortuary is handling arrangements.