Walter Ligon was my ex husband.

Even though we parted 8 years ago I was deeply in love with him for many years with a connection I will never forget. He gave me my beautiful awesome daughter ZoÃ« Ligon and was a fantastic Dad beyond what I could have ever hoped for or imagined.

I will miss him. I'm grateful we had several wonderful conversations his last week here.

Walt was my step dad for 11 years when I was growing up.  I called him Dad - at his request, which felt strange at first but soon felt normal. He met my mother, Peggy, when I was just two and we lived in New Jersey.  He moved in with us and they got married two years after and we eventually moved to Maryland.  I have many memories of our time together as a family.  

Some of my favorites included going on many camping trips, beach vacations in North Carolina, going for pizza every Tuesday night at Maggies in Silver Spring to watch the A-Team on the big screen TV - this was our thing, we went the two of us every week, if something else was on the tv, they always changed it to the A-Team for us and we would hum outloud the song in the beginning - we would also love to play Ms. Pac Man and Galaga.  I remember going trick-or-treating with him and every year he would paint on his scary ghost face, put on a white sheet and take me out.  He loved to be scary.  Even though I sometimes feel goofy, I now dress up with my kids because I thought it was pretty cool to have a parent dress up with me when I was a kid.  One of my favorite things was riding on the back of his motorcycle - I was probably about 8 or 9 and I even had my own little blue helmet to match his motorcycle.  (Although my mother hated this and ultimately she had him part ways with the bike.) 

One thing I will always be grateful for, is his teaching me to ski at a young age.  When I was just 4, we started skiing in Killington, Vermont.  When we lived in Jersey, we would go every other weekend.  I now do the same with my kids as we have season passes in Killington and I like to tell them that is where I learned to ski at their ages as well.

I heard at his service that he was still a fan of games - apparently cards and scrabble.  When I was a kid, we played cards as well and when I was older there always seemed to be a game of Risk set out on the table - his favorite then.  He also played to win.  

Growing up with Walt as a Dad, also brought with is some embarrassing moments - such as being out to eat at Armonds Pizzaria in DC, where it was jammed packed and we were getting no service - some may get up and find a server, but nope Walt put his fingers to his lips and let out the loudest whistle.  The entire restaurant when quiet and everyone looked at us and he said, can we get some service?  Surely they spit in our pizza that night and I was probably as red as the sauce but I have a fun story to share with my kids.  

Another thing Walt would do when you got hurt is "pull out the pain" - he would literally make grabbing motions pulling the pain into a ball and then tossing it aside.  He believed this worked and I had to go with it.  One time he was playing Racketball with his son Walter and Walter got hit hard with the ball.  Well Walt came right up and started pulling out the pain - I was sitting outside watching and people would walk by saying 'what is he doing?!' I think I just said, I don't know.  

As I was going into high school, my mom and Walt separated and soon divorced.   We eventually lost touch and it wasn't until about 4 years ago when I was married with 2 kids of my own that we briefly reconnected.  He and Zoe came to Philadelphia where my husband and I met them for lunch.  It was really great to see the relationship they had and I was happy for him. He also talked fondly of Walter and Dottie and their families.  It was so nice to hear that everyone was doing well. I know he loved all of his children and grandchildren very much and it is nice to learn that he was cherished and valued by so many. 

In retrospect, his time with my mother and I may have been a time of growing for all of us.  Thinking about it now, I think we are all better people because of it.  For my mother, she learned how truly strong she was and did a great job continuing to raise me on her own. She ultimately found her "one" and remarried and is happy to this day. For me, I am sure that his role in raising me is also a part of who I am now and I am grateful. 

I was very close to getting up and sharing my story at his Memorial Service yesterday but I didn't.  I wish I did and so I am doing this now.  Rest in peace Dad.  Thank you for all the good you did.

Thank you, Walter, for the opportunities and support you provided when we worked together at CSC. You challenged me to become a better writer and were always there to help and encourage. You treated me with respect, kindness, and good humor, always, and working with you was a privilege and a pleasure. May your indomitable spirit find peace and joy, and may your family find comfort for their grievous loss.

It's so wonderful to hear about Walter's accomplishments from his West Point days. He was humble and quiet about them, but they were impressive indeed. Walter was my toughest interviewer when I applied to Deloitte a few years back. He maintained his exacting standards until the end. May you rest in peace, my friend.

I roomed with Walt for three years at West Point. He was a very accomplished man: star man (top 3 percent of the class) Brigade boxing champ, lettered in soccer. More than a few classmates might not have graduated without his help. I watched them stream into our room between the end of call to quarters and taps to get help with math, fluids, solids etc. He gave his help freely. We stayed in touch from time to time. I watched him raise his daughter Zoe who just graduated from Fordham here in New York City this year. He was a very caring a giving Dad. Well done Walt. Be thou at rest.

You will be truly missed my friend. Your passing came as a shock to all of us at Deloitte who worked alongside of you for many years. I pray you rest easy and hope you find your heaven. You will be missed.

Goodness, Walter and I sat across from one another at work  for about three years --- kidded each other about politics, his zen garden, and many other topics.  He was my favorite curmudgeon who was always in on all the laughs and wanted to be a part of every conversation. If there was a party going on, he wanted to be involved!   He will truly be missed by each of us.  He will hold a special spot in the hearts of us all.
Shelley Harris - co-worker

I was saddened to hear of the passing of our dear coworker. It still comes as a great shock, as I was JUST working closely on a project with him. Though Walter was very particular about his graphics, I always appreciated his honest feedback of my work. (I am happy to know he liked my last batch! **smile**) I will miss catching up with him in the hall...with coffee mug in hand, he would always stop to ask how I was doing. My thoughts and prayers of encouragement are with his family. God bless you all.

OBITUARY

Walter B. Ligon Jr.

20 May, 1939 – 2 November, 2014

Hines-Rinaldi Funeral Home

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Reminders

Services