Walter Thomas Pumphrey Jr.

Walter Thomas Pumphrey, Jr.

January 14, 1940 – July 10, 2025

Walter Thomas Pumphrey Sr., 85, of Raleigh, NC, passed away peacefully on July 10, 2025, surrounded by his loving family.

Born to Walter and Rita Pumphrey on January 14, 1940, Walter was raised in Bethesda, MD, and proudly served in the U.S. Army following high school. After his service, he began a long and fulfilling career as an IT Consultant with IBM, where he worked until his retirement in 1992.

Walter first spotted Ginnie Creamer across the fence at Kenwood Country Club back in high school and was smitten from the start. As fate (and teenage matchmaking) would have it, Ginnie’s friend was dating the friend Walter was with, and he declared, "We must double date tonight!" They went on a few dates, but life took them in different directions. After returning from the Army and settling into his job at IBM, he found out where Ginnie was working, walked in with his heart in his hands, and said what he’d been meaning to all along. That one bold visit turned into 62 years of marriage, five amazing kids, and a lifetime filled with love, laughter, and just the right amount of beautiful chaos.

In 1976, Walter and Ginnie built a seaside cottage that quickly became the heart and soul of their family life. Summers and holidays were spent there. A cottage full of sandy feet and stories passed around the table.

Walter especially loved a sunrise with a fishing rod in hand, and a sunset with a book on his lap. It was his happy place, and he made it ours too. That little house by the sea holds decades of memories and carries with it all the love, comfort, and connection that Walter poured into his family. It remains, to this day, the truest reflection of his heart.

Walter is survived by his devoted wife, Ginnie Pumphrey, and their children: Gina Suchy, Sean Pumphrey (Karen), Megan Schaefer (Bill), and Colette Wilcox. He also leaves behind nine grandchildren, David, Natalie, Thomas, Conor, Harrison, Mia, Tillman, Ian, and Ella, who knew him as the quiet one with a soft spot for each of them.

He is also preceded in death by his son, Walter Thomas Pumphrey III, who remains a lasting part of the family’s story.

A private family gathering will be held to honor his memory.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to take a moment to read a good book by the sea.