John R. Walter

John R. Walter Battle Creek John R. Walter, 85, a lifelong Battle Creek resident, died peacefully at Lifespan Good Samaritan Hospice Care with his family at his side on Wednesday, September 23, 2009. He was born in Battle Creek to John F. and Nada M. (Bennett) Walter on Christmas Eve, 1923. John was a 1942 Battle Creek Central High School graduate. John attended Great Lakes Morehead State Teachers College in Morehead, KY. He served during WW II with the U.S. Navy on a destroyer, The USS McGowan, in the Asiatic Pacific, including The Panama Canal, the Marshall Islands and the Invasion of Saipan. After the war, he was assigned to Camp Perry in Williamsburg, VA. While there he graduated from Electrical School. In 1945, he was discharged at Shumaker, CA. John worked for the Kellogg Company for a total of 15 years, before and after WWII. In 1950, he opened Walter's Electric with his father, and brothers, Dick, Bob and Don. In 1975, he went into business for himself operating J.R. Electric until retiring. John married Edythe I. Whitney in Battle Creek on July 3, 1943. Surviving are Edythe, his wife and companion of over 66 years; two daughters, Julie A. (Darrell) Lepper of East Leroy and Rebecca L. (Ken) Comport of Battle Creek; two grandchildren, Gregory G. (Eileen) Fountain and Wendi R. Reynolds; and a great-grandchild, Alyson. John was preceded in death by three brothers, Robert, Donald and Richard. John was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and a charter member of the Lakeview Exchange Club. He was a past-president of the Rental Properties Association, a former president of the Battle Creek Area Electrical Association and a member of V.F.W. Post #298. John enjoyed gardening, fishing and deer hunting at his cabin in Michigan's Upper Pennisular. At the request of the family, friends may call after 1:00 p.m. Sunday at the Farley-Estes & Dowdle Funeral Home where they will be received 1:00-3:00 and 5:00-7:00 p.m. Funeral services will be officiated by Dr. Jeffrey S. Carlson at the Farley-Estes & Dowdle Funeral Home 1:00 p.m. Monday, September 28, 2009. Military Honors by the U.S. Navy and interment will follow at Floral Lawn Memorial Gardens. Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of one's choice. Personal messages for the family may be placed at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.