Gordon Walter

Gordon Walter, a long-time resident of Fort Wayne, Indiana, and a prize-winning letter writer to the Journal Gazette, passed away on July 22, 2022 at Heritage Park Senior Living Community a few weeks after celebrating his 103rd birthday.

Born in Omaha, Nebraska in 1919, Gordon was a graduate of Iowa State University, where he was valedictorian of the Electrical Engineering class of 1941. A highly trained engineer, earning the equivalent of a Ph.D within the General Electric educational system, Gordon capped his long career at GE as a manager at the former Specialty Transformer Division in Fort Wayne.

A member of Plymouth Congregational Church for 65 years, Gordon held several important lay positions there over the years, including serving as the Moderator. He participated in the Boar’s Head festival for over thirty years and sang in the choir for many decades.

In Omaha, he was an Eagle Scout at 13. At Omaha North High school, he was both the first chair violinist in the school orchestra and a star of the debate team. At Iowa State University, he wrote a daily humor column for the newspaper, participated on the debate team (including against the Oxford Union debaters before the U.S. entered World War II), and was tapped for Cardinal Key, a national honorary society that recognizes exemplary leadership.

An avid world traveler and accomplished photographer, he amassed more than 10,000 slides of his extensive travels through North America, Europe, South America, Asia, Australia and New Zealand.

After his retirement, he was chair of the downtown Community Center Foundation for 20 years. He continued his adult education at the Community Center, studying Spanish and even led his study group after the teacher fell ill. He ingeniously translated familiar nursery rhymes into Spanish to the delight of many He enjoyed his membership in the Anthony Wayne Rotary for many years. He was also an avid and enthusiastic golfer.

A prodigious letter writer to this newspaper, he received the Golden Pen award for the letter of the year in 1996 and he won the award for letter of the month in April 2017, just 5 years ago when he was 98. His letters focused on issues of national importance, including keeping a solid wall between church and state, upholding freedom of speech, and sensible gun control.

Gordon was predeceased by his first wife Eileen (“Rusty”); his second wife, Kay; his son, David; his sister, Priscilla; his grand-daughter, Sybil; and grandson, Joel . He is survived by his daughter, Judith; his son- in-law, Irvin Nathan; and two grandsons, Michael and Eric Walter.

After the death of his second wife, Gordon lived on his own in his home until he was over 100. During that time he also continued driving his red Dodge Charger with a spoiler. In February 2020, after a fall, he moved to the Heritage Park Assisted Living facility, where he was well-liked by staff and many residents, who helped celebrate his 103rd birthday on June 25.

He will be remembered at a service at Plymouth Congregational Church this coming autumn. The family asks that any contributions made to honor Gordon's life be made to Plymouth Congregational Church, 501 W. Berry St., Fort Wayne, IN 46802. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy for Gordon's family may be shared at www.McCombandSons.com.