Agency History
Walton Insurance was founded in Oskaloosa, Iowa as the Walton Brothers Agency in 1930, when J. H. Walton and Samuel Walton purchased the Bartley-Kissick Insurance Agency. R. H. “Bob” Walton joined his uncles in the agency soon after and became its owner in the 1940s. Bob retired from the agency in 1983.
Over its ninety-three years of operation, the agency has represented many national and regional insurance companies, while writing all lines of property and casualty insurance. Life insurance was sold in the early years by one of the agency founders, Samuel Walton. Sam became a Senior NYLIC agent with the New York Life Insurance Company and represented them as a career agent for over twenty-five years. Upon Sam’s retirement in the 1950’s, the agency continued to sell life and health insurance until 2006. The agency has always emphasized commercial property and casualty insurance for business, as it does today.
Before Bob Sr.’s retirement, Bob Walton Jr. returned to the agency in 1974 after graduating from the University of Iowa and spending several years in insurance pursuits in Iowa City, Iowa. He started three agencies including his own Walton Insurance Serivices before returning to Oskaloosa. Bob has served as the Walton Agency President and CEO for over fifty years. September 13, 2023 officially marked Bob’s fifty-sixth year as an Iowa licensed independent insurance agent. He continues to direct his energies toward to commercial insurance and risk management.
Ruth Walton joined the Agency in 1983. As a co-owner she now serves the Agency as Treasurer. In addition to her many underwriting and customer service duties, Ruth manages several key agency accounting and internal management systems, while overseeing the accuracy of practically every paper and electronic transaction taking place in the agency.
Ryan Walton joined the Agency in 2012. In addition to his ever-expanding insurance underwriting duties in personal and commercial lines insurance, Ryan watches over the agency data processing network and website as its webmaster. Ryan is currently serving as Secretary of the Corporation.
Over its nine decades of operation, the Agency has seen many valuable staff and associates come and go. Joyce Webb is a current organization main stay. After the retirement of Dean Strawn in 2015, she handled MPCI crop insurance for the agency until 2019, when it ceased marketing crop insurance. She remains a senior customer service agent for all types personal lines insurance.
The Walton Agency is approaching its 94th year of providing quality insurance service in Oskaloosa and the surrounding areas. Our motto is: where price and service come together.