Chester William Dewalt Jr. M.D.

Chester William Dewalt, Jr., M.D.
Virginia Beach - Chester William Dewalt, Jr., M.D. was born in Pittsburgh, PA, on October 25, 1922, to Chester W. Dewalt, M.D. and Ann Elizabeth Kirk Dewalt. He died on September 8, 2013 in Princess Ann Hospital. He was a resident of Atlantic Shores in Virginia Beach.He spent his first nine years in Enon Valley, PA, and the family moved to Columbiana, Ohio, where he graduated from high school in 1940.
He graduated from Western Reserve University (now Case Western Reserve) in Cleveland, Ohio, in September 1943. He enjoyed quite a successful college football career while there and was named all-conference left halfback (triple threat halfback with kicking, passing and running) in each of his two varsity years and second team All-Ohio the second year. His collegiate career was shortened a year since he was on an accelerated year round schedule required by his Naval Reserve status.
The day after graduating from WRU, he reported to South Bend, IN, to attend the Notre Dame Midshipman School and was commissioned an Ensign in the Supply Corp, USN, 53 days later. Next came six months at Harvard Business School learning Navy supply and disbursing. An application for Pacific Destroyer duty was accepted and he reported aboard the USS Erben, DD631, in the fall of 1944 and spent 15 months as her Supply and Disbursing Officer. The Erben participated in the Leyte Invasion and the subsequent Okinawa Campaign and Japanese strikes with Task Forces 38 and 58.He served his remaining duty time as Supply Officer aboard a repair ship commissioning small craft in Astoria, OR. He was released from active duty in June of 1946, entered the University of Pittsburgh's School of Medicine that fall and graduated in June of 1950. His internship followed for one year at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, VA.
He spent the next 36 years in solo General Practice in Virginia Beach until retirement in 1988.
He served as President of the Virginia Beach Medical Society, he was the first Vice President of Virginia Beach General Hospital, Member of the Virginia Beach Sports Club and served on the board for two sessions. He was a member of Princess Anne Country Club where he enjoyed golfing year round for over 50 years. He was honored to be named to the Columbiana High School and the Case Western Reserve Athletic Halls of Fame.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 43 years and the love of his life, Helen Welsh Dewalt, who died in 2001. His sisters, Mary Jane "Berries"(William A.) Dickinson and Lois Ann (Karl Bruce) Zellers predeceased him in 2009 and 2011, respectively. He is survived by five nieces and three nephews: Diane Dickinson, Deborah Ann Zellers (Umberto) Meduri, Scott (Becky) Dickinson, Holly Dickinson (Chuck) Ramsdail, K. Bruce (Christine) Zellers, Chesney Dewalt Zellers (John) Gulas, Kirk Dewalt (Laura) Zellers and Regina Welsh Esham. He also leaves numerous great and great-great nieces and nephews.
A graveside service will be conducted on Friday at 2 p.m. in Rosewood Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers donations may be sent to the American Cancer Society, 4446 Expressway Dr., Virginia Beach, VA., 23452
H.D. Oliver Funeral Apts., Laskin Rd. Chapel is handling arrangements.
"Bill Dewalt was a man of very many interests and talents."