Walter Raymond Flowers

Spud died from a brain injury at Suburban Hospital, Bethesda, Maryland, after falling and hitting his head during a walk at Great Falls Park. He lived a life of adventure, and his final exit reflected his adventurous spirit.

Born on December 18, 1932, in Portsmouth, VA, Spud graduated from the Naval Academy in 1955. He worked as an Electrical Engineer on Naval Communications systems, eventually achieving the rank of Captain—the highest possible rank for an officer who worked in the supply side of the Navy.

Spud is survived by his brother Bob Flowers, three children (with his former wife Nita Beeson): son Walter Glendon (Glen), daughters Dr. Karen Kaufmann and Carla Pierson, two nephews, ten grandchildren, and two great grandchildren (with one on the way). Marilyn Goodson, Spud’s friend and romantic partner of 18 years, passed away less than three years ago.

Spud’s father, Hulbert Ellis (Hub), was a Senior Chief Yeoman stationed at Pearl Harbor during the Japanese bombing on 7 December 1942. Spud was seven years old at the time. He had to take a ferry, then ride his bicycle to get home from school. He said he could see the pilots inside the Japanese airplanes as they flew at low altitude over his house. As a senior aide to a high-ranking Naval officer, Hub was able to book passage for his family to San Francisco on the first ship out of Hawaii.

While attending the Naval Academy, Spud took flying lessons “on the QT” at the Edgewater airport. During his career as a Naval officer, Spud invented a circular radio-frequency antenna—his flagship engineering accomplishment. Later, he worked as program manager, overseeing the development and installation of a Naval communications station deployed in Iceland. He also taught adult college algebra classes at American University. After retiring from the Navy in 1984, he worked for defense contractors, including Watkins-Johnson, TRW, BAE Systems, and Metratek.

In his personal life, Spud loved nature and being outdoors, especially water sports. He enjoyed sailing, windsurfing, skiing, hiking, and tennis. He taught sailing to countless students in Annapolis, with classes conducted on his Catalina 27, first named Nebulous, then later, Liquidity. Spud was active in Singles on Sailboats (SOS) as well as a regional ski club.

In recent years, he enjoyed living in his house in Annapolis with a small marina in the backyard, located on Mill Creek.

CAPTAIN FLOWERS’ BURIAL SERVICE WILL BE CONDUCTED ON

*** TUESDAY 10 MARCH 2026 AT 11 AM ***

IN FORT MYER CHAPEL, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY INTERMENT SERVICE WITH FULL MILITARY HONORS AT

ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY. PLEASE SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH ANY AND ALL APPROPRIATE FAMILY AND FRIENDS.