The son of the late Howard C and Olive Sawin White, he was born in Wollaston, MA, and grew up in Braintree where he attended Thayerlands School and was a 1940 graduate of Thayer Academy. He then continued his education at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
During World War II, he enlisted in the Navy, serving for three and a half years in the fire control division of the US Naval Destroyer, USS Cony. Assigned to the ship for its deployment in the South Pacific for the duration of the war. He saw action in many major battles, including those of Leyte Gulf, the Solomon Islands, and Treasury Island. At the latter, the USS Cony sustained heavy bombing attacks and lost a number of crew.
Following the war, Walter returned to the University of Massachusetts where he was a member of Alpha Tau Gamma fraternity. He graduated from the university’s Stockbridge school in 1947. Later that year he married Kathleen “Kay” Harkins of Bath, Maine. They celebrated their 71st anniversary in 2018.
At one time associated with the Keith Ice Cream Company of North Dartmouth, Walter was employed for thirty-one years by Hendries, Inc, of Milton, from which he retired in 1980. A resident of Weymouth for over thirty years, he was an active member of First Church in Weymouth. After retiring to Cape Cod, he volunteered at the NOAH Shelter in Hyannis. He enjoyed gardening, tennis, boating, and reading.
He is survived by a son, John “Jay” White and a daughter, Nancy Barrie. He was predeceased by his wife, Kay White and his sister, Ervina Marstin.
Burial will be at Oak Grove Cemetery in Bath, Maine at a future date.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you do an act of kindness with the idea of it being paid forward and making this world a little nicer.
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