Walter and his twin sister, Ida, were born in Sabine Parish, LA to William David and Pothenia Emmaliza "Lydia" Smith Broughton. Walter's family came to Anderson Co, TX in 1892. His parents are buried in Pleasant Springs Cemetery. On 12 January 1908, Walter married Viola A. Walston. They had five children: Ada Naomi Broughton, Walter LaRoy "W.L" Broughton, Henry V. "H.V." Broughton, Ida Mozelle Broughton, and Iris Elizabeth Broughton. Walter and his brother, V, owned a sawmill. In 1928, he built a service station on the new Elkhart highway which he operated until 1961.

OBITUARY: Palestine (TX) Herald-Press, Wednesday, 8 September 1965:

Walter Broughton, Route 1, Palestine, died at 11:45 a.m. today in a local nursing home. He was 85.

Funeral arrangements are to be announced later by the Bailey Funeral Home.

Mr. Broughton is survived by two sons, W. L. Broughton of Palestine and H. V. Broughton of Houston; two daughters, Mrs. O. R. Nerren of Nacogdoches and Mrs. Bernard White of Rockdale; a brother, Oscar Broughton of Palestine; three sisters, Mrs. Birtie Self and Mrs. Pearl Hinson, both of Palestine, and his twin sister, Mrs. J. J. Carroll of Winnsboro; nine grandchildren and several great grandchildren.

OBITUARY: Palestine (TX) Herald-Press, 9 September 1965:

Funeral services for Walter Broughton of Rt. 1, who died early Wednesday at the age of 85, will be held at 4 p.m. today at the Bailey Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Benny Burlison officiating. Burial will be in the Garden of Memories Cemetery at Elkhart, with grandsons serving as pallbearers.

Mr. Broughton, a native of Louisiana, had made his home in this county for more that 70 years. He was married to the former Miss Viola Walston, who died in 1948.