JOHN ERSEL WALLEY

JOHN ERSEL WALLEY, 96, passed away Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016. Born April 1, 1919, in Paulding, Ohio, John was a son of Ersel O. Walley and Nell Davis Walley. He first attended one room Lambert School outside of Paulding. He graduated in 1937 from North Side High School, Fort Wayne, where he served as a Junior and then as a Senior class officer, on the National Honor Society, and was team manager for the football and basket ball teams. In 1941, he graduated from Purdue University as a member of the Student Senate, Alpha Zeta National Honorary Society and Phi Delta Theta. Upon graduation from Purdue, he joined his family businesses; Walley Agricultural Service, Maumee Valley Corporation and Maumee Valley Farms Inc., with which he continued his affiliation until his death. His military service included serving in the Pacific on the U.S.S. Beckham APA 133 as a Lt. (jg), being honorably discharged in June 1946. John kept detailed written and photographic records of his Navy experience. He was an active volunteer in Fort Wayne beginning as an Eagle Scout and extending into adulthood with the American Red Cross, Metropolitan Y.M.C.A. Board, Parkview Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees, Parkview Foundation (Board and President), Laura Smock Foundation Trustee, Johnny Appleseed National Memorial Foundation (President and Secretary), Dave Hefner Fund, Session member and Treasurer of The First Presbyterian Church, and the Downtown Fort Wayne Rotary Club (Past President) where he was club historian for 20 years. He was also a member of the Fort Wayne Country Club. He spent 40 years seasonally living on the island of St. Croix, serving on the BOD of The Reef Associates, contributing to various island foundations, as well as tending his hibiscus and bougainvillea. John is survived by his daughter, Ann (Charles) Fourtner of Getzville, N.Y.; five grandchildren, Taunya Abaya of East Amherst, N.Y., Alex Walley of Needham, Mass., Tyge Fourtner of Des Peres, Mo., Tracy Fourtner of Williamsville, N.Y., and Melissa Lewis of Martha's Vineyard, Mass.; as well as 10 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wives, Catherine McKay Walley, in 1979, and Marion McKay Rastetter Walley, in 2009; son, John David Walley, in 1977; brother, James Edgar Walley; and sister, Rebecca Ann Roberts. Memorial service is 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 14, 2016, at First Presbyterian Church, Fort Wayne, with visitation at 9:30 a.m. in McKay Hall prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to The St. Croix Foundation, 1023 Market St., Christiansted VI, 00820. Local arrangements by Den Herder Funeral Home, Paulding. Online condolences may be sent to www.denherderfh.com