Gerald Lewis Walter Jr.

Gerald Lewis Walter, Jr. passed away on Wednesday, January 14, 2015, surrounded by his family. He was preceded in death by his parents, Georgie Boagni Walter and Gerald Lewis Walter, Sr. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Nancy Storey Walter; his daughter, Leslie Walter Carver, and her husband, David Ringwalt Carver; his son, Gerald "Jerry" Lewis Walter, III, and his wife, Cathie Townsend Walter; his daughter, Hollie Walter Chitty, and her husband, Marc Justin Chitty; and his grandchildren Taylor Carver, Ashley Carver Meredith, Storey Carver, Hunter Chitty, Sarah Chitty, Laura Walter, Hope Walter, Luke Chitty, Sam Chitty, and Kate Walter, as well as many other family members and friends. Gerald was born on September 10, 1936, in Opelousas, Louisiana. He moved to Baton Rouge at a young age and graduated from Baton Rouge High School. In high school, he participated in a number of sports and activities, and he served as both BRHS Class President and Key Club President in 1954. He was also a member of the 1954 Baton Rouge High State Champion basketball team. Gerald received his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Louisiana State University, where he was a member of the Kappa Alpha Order and served as president of the fraternity in 1958. He was also a Distinguished Military Graduate of the LSU ROTC program, and he served in the Artillery and Judge Advocate General branches upon graduation. Gerald went on to receive his Juris Doctorate degree from LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center in 1962. In law school, he served as the Managing Editor of the Louisiana Law Review. Upon graduation from law school, Gerald began practicing law in Baton Rouge at the law firm then known as Kantrow, Spaht, West & Kleinpeter, and later known as Kantrow, Spaht, Weaver & Walter. In 1983, Gerald began a law partnership with long-time friend, John Schwab, which they named Schwab & Walter. In 1999, Gerald joined the law firm of Taylor Porter Brooks & Phillips, where he practiced law until his retirement. During his legal career, Gerald served as the President of the Baton Rouge Bar Association, was a member of the BRBA Board of Directors, and was a Delegate to the La. State Bar Council. He was also admitted to the American College of Trial Lawyers, and he was repeatedly selected for inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America. His areas of practice included environmental law, administrative law, and litigation. He was known by his peers to be a true gentleman and an incredible legal adversary, and he was loved and respected by clients and adversaries alike. Gerald's true loves in his life were his Lord, his wife and family, his law practice, and his hunting camps. He was an avid hunter and fisherman, and he spent every weekend he could with his dear friends at the hunting camps. He will be remembered for his joyful smile and countenance, his loving friendship, and his peace, strength, and endurance during the last days of his battle against cancer. He will be dearly missed. Pallbearers will be John Storey, Charles Boagni IV, Hunter Chitty, Taylor Carver, Marc Sanchez, Mike Sotile, Lawrence Maestri, Brent Bankston, and Kevin Bankston. Honorary Pallbearers will be Wick Cooper, Charles Boagni III., Jim Hatcher, Karl Harvey, John Kean, Jimmy Field, John Schwab, Warren Rabb, Frank Simoneaux, Bobby Phillips, Si Woodward, Jimmy Thompson, Tom Sawyer, and the late Allen Smith. A special recognition is given to his longtime colleagues, Anne Crochet and Renee' Stolzenthaler. Visitation will be held on Friday, January 16, at Rabenhorst Funeral Home, 825 Government St., from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm. Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, January 17, at The Chapel on the Campus at 11:00 am with a visitation beginning at 10:00am. Burial will follow at Resthaven Gardens of Memory. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Hospice of Baton Rouge or The Chapel on the Campus.