Roy W. Walters

Roy W. Walters, Jr., 93, of Sarasota passed away on April 11, 2012. He was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee and was the eldest son of Ruth Gokey Walters and Roy W. Walters. He is predeceased by his beloved wife of 64 years, Mary C. Walters, and by his brother, Dr. William S. Walters. He is survived by his children: Roy W. Walters, III and his wife Cindy of Long Beach, CA; Christine Walters-Crowther and her husband Brad of Mount Pleasant, SC; Carolyn Fox and her husband Ron of Waterbury, VT; and Ruth S. Walters and her husband Michael Barrett of Loudonville, NY. He is also survived by five grandsons: Roy W. Walters IV, Jonathan Crowther, Curtis Fox, Michael Barrett, and Samuel Barrett. Other survivors are a great-granddaughter, Ella Catherine Walters, and his sister, Harriet W. Sullivan of Falls Church, VA.

Roy was a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh and was a member of Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity. Upon graduation he began his work with Bell Telephone of Pennsylvania. He enlisted in the US Army Air Force and rose to the rank of Captain. Roy became Chief Aircraft Maintenance Officer of the 4th Combat Cargo Squadron of the Eastern Air Command and served in the China - Burma - India Theater during World War II.

Upon return to the states, Roy was employed in various managerial positions with Bell Telephone of Pennsylvania. He relocated to Ridgewood, New Jersey to assume the position of Director of Employment and Development of AT & T. In 1966 Roy founded Roy W. Walters and Associates, a personnel consulting firm specializing in the development of new philosophies, strategies, and methods for improved use of human resources. He was an internationally acknowledged leader in helping organizations redesign jobs and work systems. He is also the author of the book Job Enrichment for Results. Upon retirement he relocated to Venice, FL. Roy was instrumental in the establishment of the Plantation Community Foundation and became its first president. He enjoyed summer vacations at the family home on Lake Chautauqua, New York. For the past 8 years Roy was a member of the Glenridge Community of Sarasota.