Richard Jenkins Walter

1940 - 2024

Richard Jenkins Walter
VIENNA, VA - Richard Jenkins Walter, 84, passed away at home on September 7, 2024.
Born July 13, 1940, in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, Richard grew up in Elizabeth City, N.C., and graduated from the College of the Albemarle in 1964. He served in the U.S. Air Force (1958-62), stationed at Cape Canaveral, FL, and in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve (1962-65). Richard married Sandra Lee Parson in 1966, and they lived in Vienna, Virginia, raising their family. Known for his storytelling, Richard shared memories of Elizabeth City and summers in Nags Head. After his military service, Richard worked for Atlantic Research, Dominion Virginia Power, and Allied Signal Aerospace, retiring in 2005. Passionate about trains, genealogy, and animals, Richard was an active member of the National Railway Historical Society and volunteered at the Shepherd's Center of Northern Virginia. His cross-country train trips in 2019 and 2024 with his daughters were cherished memories. Richard had an outgoing personality and enjoyed spending time with friends in the NRHS, his Dominoes and Canasta groups, and his McDonald's coffee crew. His sense of humor and unique personality made him a beloved friend to many, and he deeply valued the joy and camaraderie these gatherings brought him.
He is survived by his wife Sandra; daughters Annie and Sarah; grandchildren Kelsey, Megan, and Jacob; great-grandson Carter, with two more great-grandchildren on the way.
He was preceded in death by his father, George Franklin Walter, Jr., and mother, Ruth Naomi Jenkins Walter; his siblings, Naomi Adele Brice, James Bray Walter, Sr., Lea Louise Gregory, and Carole Marie Earle.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Money & King Funeral Home, Vienna, VA, on October 27, 2024, at 1 p.m., followed by a gathering at Bear Branch Tavern.