Walter was born and raised in West Helena, Arkansas, to Walter Sr. and Juanita Burnette. Walter Sr. had a car dealership and airplanes, which were used for barnstorming so Walter Jr. grew up around Curtis Jennies and a Waco 10. After graduating from Helena High School, he attended the University of Arkansas before attending the United States Military Academy at West Point, including flight training. Upon graduation on June 1, 1943 he was winged by Gen Hap Arnold, received a diploma, commissioned a Second Lieutenant, and married his sweetheart, Judith Farley.
Assigned to the 47th Bomb Group in Italy, he flew 75 missions in the A-20 Havoc earning a Distinguished Flying Cross. After the war, he taught Military Science at John Hopkins University then the University of Maryland. In the Korean War, he flew 17 missions in the F-51D Mustang in the 86th Fighter/Bomber Group before becoming an Air Liaison for the 4th Infantry Division. After Korea he flew the F-86D and retired from the Air Force in 1965 as a Lieutenant Colonel.
Walter began teaching at Central Missouri State University and attended night classes and eventually earning his PhD in Education from the University of Missouri. In 1984 he retired again and moved to Corpus Christi and supervised the Webster University branch office. Around 1990 he fully retired to Sun City Center, Florida. Walter loved flying and owned numerous light aircraft into his 80’s. After Judith’s stroke in 2008, they returned to Corpus Christi to be near their son, Christopher. Judith passed away in 2010 and Walter continued living in a retirement community. Walter’s last two years were in nursing care, and he passed peacefully on May 9, 2021 at the age101.
Walter is survived by 6 children, 21 grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren. A Memorial Service will be held at Memory Gardens Funeral Home on Tuesday, July 13, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. Inurnment will be held at Coastal Bend State Veterans Cemetery.
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