He was born on May 24,1935 to parents Wiley and Alvira Gallaher in Detroit, Michigan. Walter joined the Navy at the age of 17 after convincing his parents it would be safe as long as he went to basic training with his older brother, Roy. There, he served as photographer stationed on the USS Intrepid and some of his images can be found on display in the USS Intrepid Museum in New York City.
Walt joined the Detroit Police Department where he walked a downtown beat. After meeting the love of his life on a double date, he married Nancy Kerrigan on Valentine’s Day in 1959, who survives him. His three children, Colleen Paparelli with her husband Bob, his sons Scott, and Matt with his wife Sue, along with five grandchildren and two great grandchildren also survive him. Walt’s parents Wiley and Alvira, older brother Roy, and younger sister Virginia have preceded him.
While working as a Manager at Ford Motor Company, he attended Wayne State University where he became the first in his family to graduate college. He later graduated from Michigan State University College of Law and started his own law practice where he often provided free services to people in need. He retired as an Administrative Law Judge for the State of Arizona. When he wasn’t working, he became an ordained minister, pilot, volunteered in prison ministry, coached youth skeet shooting, and was a hunter safety instructor for Arizona Game and Fish.
A memorial service will be held on December 13th at 4 PM in the Palo Verde Building (Oakwood Room) at 2615 S Farnsworth Dr, Mesa, Arizona.
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