Walter L. Ducharme

DUCHARME, Walter L. 85, of Tampa, passed away on May 4, 2011. "Poppy" was born in Hudson Falls, NY, and resided in South Glens Falls, NY, and Nashville, TN, Winter Springs, and Tampa, since 1985. He served his country in WWII, received a Purple Heart and was a POW. He served his community as a volunteer policeman, a leading member of the Rotary Club of South Glens Falls, NY, a long-time National Parks volunteer and tour guide, and a member of the Knights of Columbus. He owned Walt's Atlantic Service Station in South Glens Falls, NY. He owned and trained winning harness-track horses, namely Charming Chic, in Saratoga Springs, NY. He was a beloved school bus driver for the South Glens Falls School District, known affectionately by his kids as "Road Runner." He served as President of the local chapter of the Civil Service Employee Association. He was also a craftsman, carpenter and machinist. He loved animals and the outdoors, and could be found camping, boating, fishing, tending his yard and garden, or most likely feeding squirrels. He is survived by his loving family and many friends, wife, Betty; siblings, Arthur Ducharme of Glens Falls, Raedene Doty, and Regina Briggs, both of Winter Springs; daughter, Margo Kelly of Dallas, TX; son, Bruce Ducharme and wife, Lynda of Tampa, son, Brian Ducharme of Tampa, and daughter, Julie Smead and husband, Scott, of Leesburg, VA; grandchildren, Laura Wright and husband, Bruce, Tricia Stanley, Jackie Cooper and husband, Mark, Lindsay Kelly, Dustin Ducharme and wife, Jenny, Vanessa Ducharme, Brian Ducharme, Danielle Dolsak, Courtney Ducharme, Jennafer Smead, Brandon Smead; great-grandchildren, Ryan Wright, Stephanie Wright, Deven Fuqua, Alexis Stanley, Noah Stanley, Brittany Becknell, Jaiden Dolsak, Jackson Ducharme, and Caroline Cooper. He was predeceased by his wife of 48 years, Joyce. The family will receive friends from 6:30-8:30 pm on Monday, May 9, 2011, at Blount & Curry Funeral Home, 605 S. MacDill Ave. , Tampa. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10 am on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 4522 S. Manhattan Ave., Tampa, FL. 33611. Interment will follow at Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell. Blount & Curry Funeral Home South MacDill Avenue Chapel 813-876-2421 in charge. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Wounded Warrior Project at www.woundedwarriorproject.org or 877-832-6997, 4899 Belfort Road, Ste. 300, Jacksonville, FL 32256.