West Des Moines, Iowa
Walter Thomas Giles, 92, passed away peacefully on October 11, 2013 at Arbor Springs in West Des Moines. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday, October 16 at McLaren’s Chapel, 801-19th St. in West Des Moines with burial at Resthaven Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.
Walter was born December 15, 1920 to Chauncey K. and Eva M. (Wiley) Giles on the Dallas County family farm. He graduated from Valley High School with the class of 1938. Walter enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1942 and served as 1st Lieutenant, B-17 Pilot, with the 15th Air Force. He was discharged in 1945 and returned home to the family farm and worked the dairy operation. Walter was active in real estate and land development in Dallas County. He and his wife, Luella, made their home at Lake Panorama for a short time before returning to the Waukee area.
Walter is survived by two brothers, Charles Giles of Grimes and Chauncey Jr. (Helen) Giles of Sun City West, AZ; daughter, Karen (Jay) Gerlich of Lake Panorama; granddaughters, Maggie (Garret) Armstrong of Avon, NY., Erin (Joel) Ambrose of Lake Panorama, and Elizabeth (Ryan) Ratcliff of rural Dallas Country; three great-grandchildren, Avery Ambrose, Caden and Adley Ratcliff. Walter was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Bill Giles; sister, Margaret Giles Schima; and loving wife of 66 years, Luella Bishop Giles.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warriors Project (www.WoundedWarriorProject.org) or a charity of the donor’s choice.
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