Claude Emanuel Walwyn

Claude was born on May 9, 1928, to Alfred & Mary Edith Walwyn in Nevis- West Indies.

Upon his graduation from Caribbean Training College in Trinidad, he traveled to the United States of America where he would eventually serve in two branches of military including the Army and Air Force, where some of his time served was during the Korean War. His work in the armed forces as a medic helped further his career in the medical field as he went on to receive his certification for licensed practical nursing following his honorable discharge from the military. He provided private duty nursing during his residence in New York.

Claude met his first wife, Dorothy Booker, at a West Indian dance club in Harlem, NY, and married in 1957. They resided in St. Albans, Queens, New York. Claude enjoyed the weekly Sunday ping pong afternoons at home where he remained the champion for decades. After the birth of his first child, Karen Michele, with whom he taught piano lessons starting at the age of three, they moved to St. Croix, in the Virgin Islands, in 1974, wanting to return to the warm weather of the islands. In 1976, the family relocated back to the states to Hollywood, FL where Claude transitioned into a career in Drug Counseling & Rehabilitation at Nova University.

Claude traveled across the world and married his second wife, Pelagia “Ilay” Mangosing in the Philippines in May of 1983. During their honeymooning in Paoay and visiting the family farm in Ilocos Norte, it was here where Claude developed an even stronger interest in gardening and the cultivation of crops which he soon began to practice upon his return to the United States with Pelagia “Ilay”. A few years after the birth of his second daughter, Tanya Felicia (who was playfully named after his favorite Island yam), Claude retired in 1990 and relocated the family to Avon Park, FL, where he devoted much of his retired life to beautifying his land along with his late wife, Pelagia “Ilay”, where they cultivated what could be described as a modern-day Garden of Eden.

In his spare time, Claude was a musician that enjoyed the classical and jazz realm but, more than anything, found true bliss in sparking a musical interest in both of his daughters, one of which (Karen Michele) went on to become a concert pianist/composer and is currently a Professor of Piano at Berklee College of Music.

In the last several years, Claude relocated to Riverview, FL to live with his daughter (Tanya Felicia) and son-in-law (Ricke) and proudly took on his new Full-Time role as “Grandpa”. He was able to welcome home three of his five grandchildren with open arms, all of which brought him great joy, laughter and love in his remaining years.

Claude was predeceased by his beloved grandmother (Evelyn “Mammy” Hendrickson), father, (Alfred Walwyn), mother (Mary Edith Walwyn), wife (Pelagia “Ilay” Walwyn) and sister Maisie Gowdy. He is survived by his daughters, Karen Walwyn (Boston, MA), Tanya (Ricke Jr.) Peterson along with five grandchildren: Ricke III, Mia, Meghan, Hailey and Tyler (Riverview, FL), brother, Charles Prentice (Nevis-West Indies) along with his many nieces and nephews: Susan Prentice, Steve Walwyn, Dave Walwyn, Mike Walwyn, Richard (Innie) Allen, Kenneth (Andy) Halbert, Ruth Prentice, Yvette France, Veronica Phillips and Carl Walwyn. Claude will be missed terribly by those that knew and cared for him, but he leaves behind a lifetime of glorious memories that will live eternally through all that loved him.