Brian Waltrip, 67, of Centralia, passed away June 17, 2025. He was born Feb. 19, 1958, in Chehalis, Washington, to Homer and Kathleen Waltrip, the second of four children. Friends called him Bud.
Brian grew up in Chehalis with his brothers, Kelly and Randy, and his sister, Mary, playing in the woods, riding bikes and motorcycles. He had a paper route, worked on a dairy, and caught chickens at a local farm.
He later got a job driving a pea combine in the summer for the Cannery (National Frozen Foods) in Chehalis. After graduating from W.F. West High School in 1977, he went to work full time for the Cannery, retiring after 42 years in 2020.
Brian enjoyed the outdoors. Growing up, his family camped a full week every summer at La Wis Wis Campground near Packwood. He began hunting with his father and brothers at an early age, pursuing deer and elk with both rifle and bow. He could talk for hours telling hunting stories and knew every logging road in Mount St. Helens and surrounding areas.
He had many displays in his home of hunting triumphs that he was very proud of. Hunting was one of his greatest joys. Brian enjoyed riding his snowmobile in the winter and his quad ATV in the summer.
Brian and his first wife, Kathy Hill, built a home on 20 acres northwest of Centralia, where they raised and showed bullmastiff dogs and had horses. They divorced in 1997. Brian kept the home and lived there the rest of his life with a succession of faithful dogs, riding his quad.
Brian met Peggy Poe where they both worked at the Cannery. They lived together as domestic partners for 20 years before Peggy passed away in 2019. Brian helped Peggy pursue her love of collecting antiques, and together they spent countless hours shopping antique stores, thrift shops and flea markets.
Brian is survived by his older brother, Kelly Waltrip, of Laramie, Wyoming; his younger brother, Randy Waltrip, of Centralia; and his younger sister, Mary Waltrip, of Olympia. He is also survived by his aunt, Mary Coie; uncle, Calvin Coie; nephew, Luke Waltrip; and cousins, Teresa Linwood, Deanna Johnson, Daniel Allen, Brent Coie and Colleen Snyder.
A gathering of food, family and friends is scheduled for Friday, July 25, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Borst Park Kitchen No. 1. Food provided, potluck optional.
