The Lord called him home on March 26, 2026, at Riverview Nursing Center.
He is survived by two daughters, Janet Cook, and Sherri (Brian) Zajdel, both of Fulton, MO; two sons, Vernon Baumgartner of Springfield, MO and W. Lee (Judy) Baumgartner of Holts Summit, MO; five grandchildren, Jackie Sweezer, Michael Lester, Stephen Lester, Alex Zajdel, and Scott Lester; four great grandchildren, Kayleigh Murrell, Brandon Sweezer, Halo Lester, and Story Lester; two great-great granddaughters, Amber Cook-Musgrove and Alexis Rice; numerous step grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Walter married Ina Higgins on April 26, 1947, and together they celebrated 69 years, until Ina passed away on September 20, 2016.
Walter was preceded in death by his parents and only sister, Pat Baumgartner.
Walter served proudly during World War II in the Army Air Corp. He was stationed on Iwo Jima Island and traveling to Saipan, Japan.
Following his discharge from the military, Walter worked at Thorco in Lamar, MO, where he met his future wife, Ina. Together they moved to Phoenix, AZ where he worked for Coca Cola. Later they returned to Missouri where he worked for the Fulton Public School District until his retirement in 1985, after 29 years.
With only an eighth-grade education, Walter took classes to be a certified electrician while employed with Fulton School District.
He was a member of Southside Baptist Church and attended the Millersburg Baptist Church where he obtained his certification for license to the ministry. He read his bible faithfully every day until macular degeneration took his sight away. Most of all, he loved his family and enjoyed being with them.
