Walter Henry Philbates

Walter Henry Philbates, 86, of West Point, passed away Sunday December 10, 2023. Walter was born July 30, 1937, to the late Henry and Myrtle Geneva Philbates, in Hanover County. He was a graduate of New Kent High and excelled in football, basketball, and baseball. After graduating, Walter joined the United States Air Force and served 4 years, stationed in Massachusetts. When returning home to New Kent, he met his future wife, Linda Prince. They married on November 9, 1960, had two daughters, and later moved to West Point.
Walter was employed as a maintenance foreman for the Chesapeake Corporation before retiring at 55. He was a member of the West Point Christian church where he was a deacon and then elder. He served as the financial secretary and the chairman of the property committee. His hobbies included carpentry, vacationing in Nags Head, fishing, gardening, and piddling. He was a dedicated and loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend. Walter was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Geneva Philbates; and a grandson, James Paxton Edmonds, Jr.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Linda; two daughters, Donna Edmonds, and Mary Bush; two grandchildren, Tiffany Mitchell (Billy), and Justin Bush; two great granddaughters, Ella Jane Paxton Edmonds, and Kathryn Avery Mitchell; a sister, Evelyn Virginia Smither; an aunt, Joyce Adams; and two brothers in law, Michael Prince (Jenny) and Chris Prince (Barbara).
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, December 16, 2023 at the West Point Christian Church, 290 Euclid Blvd, West Point, VA 23181. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Alzheimer's Foundation Alzheimer's Foundation of America, 322 8th Avenue, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10001. Checks should be made payable to "Alzheimer's Foundation of America." or the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Attn: Membership Department, 6 Herndon Avenue, Annapolis, MD 21403.