Jim passed away peacefully at home on May 27 of congestive heart failure, with his wife Marcie by his side.

He was born in San Diego, Calif., to Byron and Helen Walters.

After high school in Los Angeles, he served in the Marine Corps and then attended Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo.

In the mid-50s, he became involved in real estate in Idyllwild, Calif., developing subdivisions where he also built and owned a golf course.

In 1959, Jim changed directions in life. Although he had never sailed before, he bought a 106-foot schooner, the DWY WYN. After learning celestial navigation in Los Angeles, he set sail for the South Pacific for six years.

He provided private charters for the Scripps Institute and others to Tahiti, Tonga and New Zealand. Also, Jim built a recording studio in Tahiti and recorded music throughout his travels in the South Seas.

In the mid-60s, he returned to Los Angeles and worked as a recording engineer in Hollywood. It became his lifelong profession and passion.

Missing the tropics, Jim moved to Honolulu in 1971. He continued in the recording profession, mastering many CDs of Hawaiian local musicians, also recording television shows, feature films and the Honolulu Symphony.

During this time, Jim also started his own business selling high-end professional audio equipment to television and radio stations and production companies.

In 1976, he met the love of his life, Marcie Eastman. They married in 1979 and had 41 wonderful years together; traveling, entertaining and sharing their lives as best friends and soul mates.

In 1990, they visited Marcie’s sister in Oak Harbor and fell in love with the area.

They bought a house and spent summers there until 1997, when they moved there permanently.

Jim had a marvelous sense of humor, a quick wit and was always telling jokes. He had so many wonderful stories of his adventures, everyone loved hearing them.

He was a life member of the NRA and a life member of the Audio Engineering Society.

He is survived by his wife Marcie; his sister Kathy Meng; his son James Dale Walters and his wife Karla; grandchildren Kurt Walters and Kelly Smith; and three great-grandchildren.

He is also survived by six loving nieces and nephews: Allison, Julie, Bob, Marilyn, Dianna and Lisa.

A private graveside service for Jim will be held later this summer at Maple Leaf Cemetery.

Jim will be missed by all those who knew him and whose lives he touched. He was an amazing man and had a remarkable life.