Walter Garfield Cronise Jr.

Walter Garfield Cronise, Jr. (90) died peacefully on Saturday, September 20, 2014, in Jacksonville, FL. He was born in Baltimore, MD on April 14, 1924, to Walter Garfield and Margaret Catharine (Wunderlich) Cronise and was baptized in the Lutheran church. He was confirmed on April 10, 1938 at Emmanuel Evangelical Church, Baltimore, MD. Walter married the love of his life, Dorothy Mae Nielsen, on May 30, 1944 in Miami, FL. They were blessed with five children, seven granddaughters, and fourteen great-grandchildren.

Walter remained in Baltimore until the age of 17 when he joined the US Navy on December 8, 1941, following the bombing of Pearl Harbor. During his time in the Navy he was trained as a Meteorologist and served three tours of duty with the Hurricane Hunter Squadron. Walter was proud to have served his country for 25 years, including three wars – World War II, Korean War, and Viet Nam War. While stationed primarily in Jacksonville, FL, the Navy also took him to South Florida, Alabama, California, Rhode Island, and Puerto Rico. He considered his assignment as an underway watch officer on an aircraft carrier to be one of his greatest achievements.

Following his retirement as a Lieutenant in the Navy on May 1, 1967, Walter moved the family to South Florida where he became a popular broadcast Meteorologist on television at WPLG Channel 10 and on the radio. He was known for wearing only bow ties on air and was jokingly referred to as “Rich Uncle Walter” on the radio. Walter retired from broadcast Meteorology in December of 1992. He and his wife, Dorothy, remained in South Florida until March of 2014, when they moved to Jacksonville, FL to be closer to their two eldest children. His passion for Meteorology continued until his death. Walter checked the weather maps every day on his computer and continued to predict the paths of Hurricanes. He also enjoyed playing golf, including Pro-Am tournaments during his time at Channel 10, and watching sports on TV.

Walter was preceded in death by his parents and his younger sister, Margaret Carolyn Cronise Hopf. He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Dorothy, his children Carole Lynn Cronise Ross (Todd), Diana Raye Cronise Canipelli, Glenn Arthur Cronise, Jon Christian Cronise, and Kristy Anne Cronise Friedman; his granddaughters Stephanie Lynn Ross Sawicki (Chad), Lisa Kathleen Ross Mills (David), Amy Suzanne Ross Williams (Ward), Dorie Christine Canipelli Ellis (Steve), Michelle Stephanie Friedman Kirchner (Kevin), Amy Marianne Canipelli Bouchelle (James), and Heather Anne Friedman; his great grand-children Camden Alexander Sawicki, Abigail Elizabeth Sawicki, Carter Todd Mills, Tate Andrew Williams, Annie Kate Sawicki, Clay Alexander Mills, Carson Ward Williams, Caroline Grace Mills, Sarah Paige Williams, Aurora Mae Bouchelle, Dylan Vincent Bouchelle, Audrey McKenna Ellis, Marshall Thomas Kirchner, and Madelyn Quinn Ellis; and his nieces, Barbara Hopf Keeney, Carol Hopf Penyak and Karen Hopf.

A Memorial service will be held Saturday, October 18th, at eleven o'clock in the morning at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church7601 SW 39 Street, Davie, FL 33328

954-475-0683. Visitation immediately following in the Fellowship Hall.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in his name may be sent to Wounded Warrior Project on-line at https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org or by phone at 877-832-6997; or Lutheran Church Missouri Synod World Relief on-line at https://lcms.org/givenow/worldrelief, by phone at 888-930-4438, or by mail to 1333 S. Kirkwood Road, St. Louis, MO 63122.