He was born on October 25, 1919 in Wellston, OK to a German farming family. He was raised in Stillwater, OK along with 5 other siblings. He attended Oklahoma A&M College before becoming an Air Force pilot in WWII. During the war he flew bomber planes over Italy and was credited with two hits on German Focke-Wulf planes although he never boasted about his war accomplishments. He retired from the Federal Aviation Administration in 1978 in Lubbock, TX.
Shortly after retirement he measured and cut lumber in Lubbock and transported the lumber and equipment to Possum Kingdom Lake where he built a cabin for him and his wife, Vera, to live in while he built an addition to complete their house. Woodworking was a skill he mastered and loved. He was an avid golfer and shot his age well into his 80’s before he had to quit to care for Vera. One of his generosities and joys was to pick up and shell pecans from a nearby park and give them as gifts to family and friends.
Walter was a faithful servant to his Lord and a lifelong Missouri Synod Lutheran. He built the communion rail at Concordia Lutheran Church in Garland, TX and was a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Plano for decades.
He was married for 68 years to Vera Mae Katherine Shults until her death in December, 2013. When she had to go into Memory Care because of Alzheimer’s, he couldn’t live without her and went to live with her there.
He is survived by his two children, Susan Rogers and her husband, Fred Rogers of Eustace, TX and Steven Petermann of Plano, TX; three grandchildren, Anne Neumann and her husband, Stew Levy of Petaluma, CA, Joanie Esparza and her husband, Roland Esparza of Dallas, TX, and David Petermann of Plano, TX; three great-grandchildren, Shelley and Emily Stevenson of Lubbock, TX and Liliana Esparza of Dallas, TX and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was a wonderful husband and great Dad. He will be missed terribly. If he could answer God’s calling him home, he would say his usual comment, “Good deal!”
A Graveside Service will be held on Thursday, March 27, 2014 at 2:00 PM at the Plano Mutual Cemetery.
Ted Dickey Funeral Home in Plano has charge of arrangements.
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