Reginald Karl Walters

Home going celebration for Mr. Reginald Karl “Nobsey” Walters who passed away on January 23, 2019 will be held on Saturday February 16, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. at the Cathedral Of Faith, 6304 N. 30th Street, Tampa, Florida, Apostle James H. Howell, Pastor with Apostle O’Neil Salmon, Officiating and Pastor Lenox Miller, Words Of Comfort.  Interment will follow in Rest Haven Memorial Park Cemetery, 4615 E. Hanna Avenue, Tampa, Florida 33610.

Reginald Karl Walters aka Nobsey was born in Kingston Jamaica on December 18, 1939, to the parents of Mabel Tomlinson and Martin Walters. He was the eleven of twelve children who’s names are Martin, Daphne, Keith, Jean, Leroy and Carol. At a young age his father had migrated to the United Kingdom where he later became a soldier and lost contact and never returned to Jamaica. His Mom was left to fend for her and then 6 kids after two met a tragic death. His Uncle Willie showing empathy to his sister decided to help by taking Nobsy to St Elizabeth to live with him. By that time the little Kingstonian was fascinated with horses and cowboys and began to dress and took on their character. One day his oldest cousin Una Clarke( aka Kitty )went to Kinsgton by train and took the little cowboy to St Elizabeth in his cowboy hat to join his Uncle and family. He was loved and embraced by his cousins and surprise they had a trained race horse and immediately he and (Peter) the horse fell in love and became best buddies that daddy would leave school during lunch and come home just to ride Peter. His imagination became a reality as he lived the life of a true cowboy. At times he and Peter would fall out, but not for long. His warm personality brought so much joy to his 11 cousins and Uncle.

His Uncle treated him no different from his children and wanted the best for all the children under his care. In the 1950’s 1960’s he valued education and wanted all to succeed so he sent the girls to formal school and the boys received training in the skills that was highly necessary attainable, profitable and in demand in the near future. My dad had great interest in electricity and electronics, sometimes too much to great annoyance of his uncle whose radios he would take apart and put them back together. At the appropriate age his Uncle and son arranged an apprenticeship for him at Appleton Estate to be trained as an Electrician by trade. Back then it was a rare opportunity to be trained as a Electrician or a machinist at the Estate.

He remained at Appleton Estate until the opportunity presents itself for him to relocate to St Thomas and was employed by Serge Island where he practiced his trade. He mastered his profession that he began holding classes training incoming employees. Knowing my dad he held their hands and ensured they perfect the trade with high standards because of his reputation.

Mr. Nobsey encountered his first relationship with Miss Avis Patterson and together they bore 2 children Phillip and Janice who was born in England when she migrate. He then met my beautiful Mom Hyacinth Lue Nukfah she was the love of his life and they entered into holy matrimony and produced 3 girls…. Mitzie, Marie and Nicola. He went to live with her family in Danvers Pen. Some years after he went to join the family of Good Year Jamaica Limited where he took root and worked there for over 30 years. During his employment there he took courses, classed and achieved certificates and went oversees to train on several occasions. He attained awards over the years. He loved his job and the employees were his second family and today they are still in touch, like Karl Murray, Norris Gordon, Mr.Sinclair, the late Shrouders and Lester Semoy. Outside of work he enjoyed socially Dawn and Teddy Lee where they shared a long history together. He really had some rich and great memories. He was very committed to his job and helping others succeed as well. The profession was so demanding at times and with his wealth of knowledge in the Company and his job title, he still held training classes with the newcomers. He was a perfectionist and very meticulous about his work. My dad was very busy and Good Year became his second home as he spent so many hours there making sure the machinery were producing and operating as they should after his shift has ended. There were times he would just drive in the driveway and within minutes here comes Karl Murray or someone coming to get him as the Factory is in trouble as the machines broke down in Bamberry. Sometimes, they would hire men from oversees to come in and try solve the problem and they often failed with their ingenuity and Daddy had to step in and diagnose the problem and improvise and get production back in flow. That’s what you call going above and beyond. The story goes one……

From the union Mr. Walters survived fourteen grandchildren, two great grandchildren. Seven nieces and nine nephews and one brother in law. He left behind a legacy of lives he touched, hearts he gave hope with advice to become the best they can be to achieve and settle not for less. Today many are dressed in success and living it, and seeds are still growing through his grand children. God bless you dad your ministry was charity and yet it ended abruptly but I believe in miracles and you are my God given miracle. A job well done you have achieved honors to the highest degree.

There will be a viewing on Friday February 15, 2019 from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the Wilson Funeral Home, 3000 N. 29th Street, Tampa, Florida.