Walter Clyde Herron

Walter Clyde Herron, Jr., was born in Columbia, S.C. on Jan. 28, 1928 to Walter Clyde Herron, Sr. and Inez King Herron. At the age of 6, his family moved to Anderson, S.C., where he grew up and attended Boys High School, graduating as Salutatorian. He graduated from Clemson University with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. While at Clemson, he completed R.O.T.C. training and was named “Outstanding Military Graduate” of his class. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve. Two years after graduation, his National Guard Unit was activated, sending Clyde to Korea, where he served the Army Artillery

Following his military service, Clyde moved to Atlanta in 1953 and accepted a job at Lockheed Aircraft Corporation, where he spent his career, retiring as Manager of the Engineering Test and Experimental Shops Division in 1991. Clyde was an active athlete, excelling at several sports. He enjoyed tennis and golf, and especially water skiing (his nieces and nephews called him “the living legend” on skis). He met his wife, Virginia Cooper, while water skiing and they married in 1956, moving to Sandy Springs where they raised their three children: Julie (Neville Carson), Clay (Marcy Hurst Herron) and Patty (Bruce Hunter).

Throughout his life, Clyde exhibited a scientist’s curiosity about how the world works. He was a master at fixing broken objects and electronics and in his later years enjoyed building and repairing furniture in Canterbury Court’s “Foxhole”. At Canterbury Court he was known as an excellent bridge player, and was a sought-after partner in many bridge games. He and Virginia loved to travel, and together they enjoyed a wide circle of friends. He was active for decades at the Cathedral of St. Philip where he served on the usher team. Clyde and his family also enjoyed annual vacations at Pawleys Island, S.C. with the Davis family and weekends at their cabin in Blue Ridge, Ga. He had a life-long love of the outdoors, especially fishing and spending time in the mountains.

Clyde was predeceased by his parents, his wife Virginia, sister Anne Herron Lummus and niece Vivian Cooper Capps. In addition to his children and their spouses, he is survived by his grandchildren: Dailey Hunter Dewling (Robby Dewling), Patrick Hunter, Eva Herron Fuller (Rashad Fuller), Nicholas Carson and several nieces and nephews.