Walter Gordon Douglas

Walt attended Parkview Baptist Church most of his youth and young adult life. He joined Hunter Street Baptist Church on June 21, 1970 and remained a member there until his death. Ironically, the family met with the pastoral staff at Hunter Street to discuss funeral arrangements on June 21, fifty-three years to the day of his joining the church.

Walt, or Butch as he was known in his youth, attended Glenn Vocational High School, Class of 1957, where he studied electrical/radio repair. While in high school, he served in the United States Naval Reserve for years 1955 and 1956. After graduation, he enlisted in the United States Navy.

During his military enlistment, Walt served as an Aviation Electronics Technician. Upon discharge from the Navy in 1962, he began his civil employment with Alabama Power Company as a lineman. He loved being outdoors and working closely with his coworkers. He was promoted to supervisor and remained an active team member who still climbed the poles and went up in the bucket trucks. He was a hands-on supervisor and passed up promotions that would have put him behind a desk. He remained at Alabama Power until his retirement in 1996.

Anyone who knows Walt knows that he can’t just sit still and do nothing. So after retirement, he took on a part-time delivery job for his friend, Jerald Johns, at Vulcan Gasket Company. He knew every road, every street, every corner of Birmingham and surrounding areas which made him a valuable asset as a delivery driver. There wasn’t any address he couldn’t tell you where it was before he left to make the delivery. He was Google maps before there was such a thing.

Walt is preceded in death (2 weeks) by the love of his life and wife of 37 years, Judy Ross Fant Douglas. His parents, Horace and Mary, also preceded him in death.

Walt is survived by his son, Jeff Powell (Kim), and his daughter, Shelley Powell Sedlak (Jon). Paw Paw / Papa loved his granddaughters dearly. He told Shelley when she was pregnant with her second child (and his last grandchild) that she was not allowed to have a boy because Papa only wanted girls. His granddaughters are Taylor Powell, Brandi Berryhill (Powell), Destiny Berryhill (Powell), Mallie Sedlak and Lucy Sedlak.

As much as he loved his granddaughters, Walt was tickled to have great-grandsons, Dawson Berryhill and Reddington Berryhill Kumer. He is also survived by his sister, Linda Laird, and nephew, Patrick Webb (Deborah).

As his family and friends remember Walt, everyone says the same thing: He loved people. He and Judy were the perfect pair. He adored her and would do whatever she said to do and she would do just that. During their time living in Helena in the Chadwick subdivision, they were known as the neighborhood grandparents. Kids of all ages loved visiting their house for snacks and cold drinks. You could find them sitting in their chairs under the shade tree waving at people in their passing cars or chatting with families as they walked the dogs. One little girl, Caroline Kissinger, even laid down on the concrete porch and pitched a hissy fit because Walt and Judy were not home when she went to visit. He never met a stranger and is always remembered fondly for his fist bumps and close, personal conversations.

Walt always wanted to help in any way he could. He would tell his daughter, Shelley, to call him as she was entering the neighborhood so he could be standing in the driveway when she arrived to help unload her car. If you were at his house and got up to do something, he would ask if you needed help. There were times when we would just make up needing help just so he could.

Walt also loved mowing grass and would mow the yards of a dozen or so homes while living in Chadwick. He was the unofficial mailman and trash collector for their neighborhood also. He loved serving others and never asked for anything in return.

Walt spent most of his younger days with his dear friend, David DeVore. They had a cabin on the Warrior River at Lock 17. David and Walt taught a lot of high school students to water ski in that river. The two also enjoyed bowling and golf. David is partly responsible for Walt meeting Judy. Walt was best man at David’s wedding to Gail Elliott. And Judy was Gail’s best friend and wedding director. They thought the two would hit it off and they were right. Walt and Judy were the perfect couple.

Visitation will be Friday, June 23, 2023 from 12-2 p.m. in the chapel at Hunter Street Baptist Church (2600 John Hawkins Parkway, Hoover, AL) with service to follow. Burial with Naval Honor Guard will be at Southern Heritage Cemetery (475 Cahaba Valley Road, Pelham, AL) following the church service. All are welcome to attend.

At the gravesite, son-in-law Jon Sedlak will play Taps to honor Navy Veteran Walter Gordon Douglas.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.SouthernHeritageFunerals.com for Walter Douglas's family.