Walter Louis Cosce, Sr.: Avid Fisherman, Excellent Cook, Master Gardener, Great Pool Player, Tree Mechanic and Perfect Santa Claus

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Walter Louis Cosce, Sr.
19, 1946-July 13, 2024

Walter Louis Cosce, Sr., was born on July 19, 1946, in San Francisco, CA to Italo and Marietta Cosce. He began his journey home on July 13, 2024, six days shy of his 78th birthday.

Walt was a veteran of the US Navy, having served aboard several aircraft carriers during the Viet Nam war. He was proud of having served his country and was an active member of American Legion Post 415 in Hoopa.

Walt came to Weitchpec in the late 1960s. Like so many others, he was drawn by the prospect of finding gold. I don’t know about precious metals but he always said he found his gold in the land and the people here. He often told the story of turning to his buddy and saying, “Wouldn’t you just love to tell people you live in Weitchpec?” He loved it so much that he did it for the rest of his life.

Walt held several occupations in his time, but logging got into his bones. He was in his happy place any time he had a chain saw in his hands. When logging jobs became scarce, he turned to cutting firewood, keeping his friends and neighbors warm as well as donating countless cords to fundraisers for local youth. He could recall a wealth of local history, family lore and off-color jokes. Walt was an avid fisherman, an excellent cook, a master gardener, a great pool player, a pretty fair shade tree mechanic and the perfect Santa Claus, but his absolute favorite thing to do was to help people. He was the guy who had the tools, know-how and willingness to help anyone, anywhere, anytime. Even when he couldn’t fix the problem, you’d walk away smiling because the man would say anything for a laugh. ANYTHING.

Walt is preceded in death by his parents, Italo & Marietta Cosce; his son, Jason Price Sr, his grandsons Jason Price, Jr, and William Price. He is survived by his sisters, Barbara Mylin (Rich), Emmy Cosce, brothers Leo Cosce (Joanne) and Albert Cosce (Beverly); his wife, Sunny Cosce, sons Walter (Louie) Cosce Jr, Vito Cosce (Ashley) and Chad “Mugzy” Sanders (Kira); his daughters Lena Cosce (Larry) and Taura Cosce (Tanner) and daughter-in-law Sarah Scott (Alex); grandsons Roman Price, Miles Barner, Orion Cosce (Liana), Louis Cosce (Bri), Shawn MacMurray Jr, Italo & Leo Cosce, and Joey Schaeffer; granddaughters Devin, Jaycee, Crystal & Kaylee Price, Aeriana Cosce, Yvonne Cosce and Julie-sa Harrison-Cosce, Marina Cosce, Felicia and Autumn Arambula (Seth), Uonascha Parker (Damani), Lorita Schaeffer and Luella Cosce; great-grandchildren Steven Watson, Jase Price-Lewis, Domanik & Vienna Cosce, and Tia Cosce, as well as numerous neices and nephews. He also leaves behind the Crayton family, Chris Hoyas, Kim Conrad, Windy Thornton and family, and too many other special friends to mention, all of whom he considered family.

There will be a viewing at Paul’s Chapel in Arcata on July 19 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. We will hold a celebration of life for Walt on August 3 at 12:00 p.m. at the Libby Nix Community Center in Weitchpec. Please bring a potluck dish and your favorite Walt Cosce stories to share.

Happy trails, Doc…until we meet again, “Peace, love, and all that hippie shit.”