HENRY CLYDE WALP

WALP
HENRY CLYDE
In his 100th year, passed away peacefully Sunday morning, August 30, 2015, surrounded by the South Point Personal Care Home staff. Henry was born June 27, 1916, on the kitchen table in Wilkinsburg, PA. He was preceded in death by his parents, Rebecca (Steele) Elder and Ford Martin Walp. He was the youngest of eight siblings. As a result of his mother's early death, he was raised by his oldest sisters, his aunt and a few foster parents. In ninth grade, he attended Mt. Hermon Preparatory Academy in Northfield, MA. He returned to Pittsburgh to attend Conroy Vocational School. At age 16, he enlisted in the US Army. According to what he shared, he had two choices - Panama or Hawaii. He was standing in the Panama line thinking it was the best choice because he could walk home if necessary until his buddies convinced him Hawaii was the better choice. He served four years at the Schofield Barracks in Oahu, HI, returning to Pittsburgh at the end of his tour of duty. Henry then spent several years in Pittsburgh working various jobs until he decided to ride his bicycle from Pittsburgh to California during the summer of 1939. This trip proved to be his greatest physical accomplishment because his bicycle (a girl's bike) had only one speed and no spares. He slept in cemeteries. One of his fondest memories was his arrest for loitering in Willis, CA. In the Mojave Desert, he was so hot he offered to buy gas for a guy in exchange for a ride to California where he was hired by McDonnell Douglas to assemble airplanes while residing in a cabana on the Santa Monica Beach. In 1942, he returned to Hawaii this time to work for the Navy as an electrician degaussing ships and to improve upon his surfing skills. In the late 1940s, he went home to Pittsburgh and began attending local church dinners and dances. It was at one of these dances he met Carolyn Wise and they were wed on August 15, 1952. They were married for 55 years until she passed on March 30, 2008. First living in Wilkinsburg in a large home surrounded by rose bushes, they moved to a new development in Oakwood in 1958. Henry had a variety of jobs including salesman, repairman, accountant and finally as a tax auditor for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Henry's proudest moments were those of being a parent and then as a grandparent. He was actively involved in all of their lives, as a playmate, homework supporter, vacation funder, then drive-in movie chaperone, chauffeur, cheerleader, personal trainer and so many more. He was a tinkerer; always trying to fix things before buying a replacement. He mentored his sons-in-law, James Shuman, Patrick Travers, David Morganwalp, and Michael Laffey on how to best deal with his daughters. Henry Walp is survived by his three daughters, Shevonne Travers, Jillian Morganwalp and Leah Laffey; and his eight grandchildren, Corey Shuman, Ryan Shuman, Brendan Laffey, Carly Morganwalp, Collin Laffey, Kelsy Morganwalp, Brianna Laffey and Destyni Travers; and his two great-grandchildren, Sylvie Marina Shuman and Avery Joshua Sitton. Brother of the late Joseph, Samuel, Bertha, and Russell Walp, Edith Anderson, Margaret "Peg" Reese, and Rebecca Tenant. Visitation 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Thursday at the SCHEPNER - MCDERMOTT FUNERAL HOME, INC., 165 Noble Ave., Crafton. Funeral Service will be held 12 noon Friday in the Crafton United Presbyterian Church, 80 Bradford Ave., Crafton, PA 15205, officiated by Rev. Matthew Bupp (EVERYONE PLEASE MEET AT CHURCH), followed by interment with military honors in the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies. Memorial donations may be made in Henry's name to Crafton United Presbyterian Church.