Gene A. WALTERS

WALTERS, COL. Gene A. Ret. Died on February 22, 2017, while vacationing in Hawaii. He lived at Quail Creek in Green Valley, Arizona. Colonel Walters was born in Dodge City, Kansas, and went to school at Kansas State University, where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity. He later received an MA in International Affairs from the George Washington University and an MBA from the Graduate School of Business at Columbia University. He was also a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, the Army War College, and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. Colonel Walters, a Master Parachutist, was a highly decorated combat veteran. Among his many decorations for valor are the Combat Infantry Badge with Star, the Silver Star, the Bronze Star (with two oak leaf clusters), the Legion of Merit (w 1 OLC), Meritorious Service Medal, Purple Heart, and the Air Medal (w 6 OLC), and decorations for valor from Korea and Vietnam. He served three different tours of duty at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. - two on the General Staff, Department of the Army, and in the Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. A highlight in Colonel Walters' career occurred when he was detailed for duty with the United Nations Security Council in the Middle East. Here he served as chairman of the Israeli-Syrian Mixed Armistice Commission. Having lived and traveled extensively throughout the Middle East, Colonel Walters has lectured before the Middle East Institute in Washington, D.C., and is the author of several articles on Palestine and Middle Eastern affairs. Colonel Walters also served as spokesman for the United Nations Command in Korea where he won acclaim for his skill as a negotiator in meeting with the Communists along the rugged DMZ and at Panmunjom. After leaving the Army, Gene was associated with Research Analysis Corporation in Washington, D.C. for two years before joining Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation as Vice President and Head of International Operations. Gene loved to travel and did so extensively throughout the U.S. and abroad. Gene's past tours of duty and business-affiliated itineraries included Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and South America. Gene was preceded in death by his first wife, Margaret; a daughter, Margaret Ann and a sister, Ruth. He is survived by his beloved wife, Carolyn and four children, William Walters, Mark Rode, David Rode and Jill Rode. A Memorial Service with full honors will be held at Arlington National Cemetery.