Obituaries
Obituary for Donald E. Walters
DONALD EARL “DONNIE” WALTERS, 86, passed away peacefully following a brief illness on Saturday, December 22, 2018, at the State Veteran’s Home in Knoxville, TN.
Don was born in Monroe, WI on April 23, 1932, to Perry and Martha Walters. He defended our country in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. From 1950 – 1953 he served as a Master Sergeant during the Korean War. From 1954 – 1973 he served as a Master Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force, retiring with honors. He engaged as a training instructor with NATO, the primary focus on military weapons and training crews for NATO’s F104 aircraft at the former Air Force Tech School at Lowry Air Force Base in Colorado. Don was an avid sports fan, particularly the Chicago Cubs and Bears. He enjoyed traveling and was a competitive pinochle player. Don was a devoted husband, father, stepfather and grandfather. Thank you, Don Walters, for your service and sacrifice for our country; you will be truly missed.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Perry and Martha Walters, along with siblings Cletus, Cyril, Ralph, Basil, James, Helen and Dorothy. Don is survived by wife Diane Sue (Schroeder) Walters and siblings LeRoy, Thelma, Margaret and Mary. Also surviving are children: Marsha Naftzger, Michael (Showni) Crump, Michele (Marc) Smitherman, Monica (Dale) Gibler, Margo (Mike) Gregory, Lucille Miracle, Deborah Ann Hill, Donald Earl Walters Jr., Perry L. Walters and Terence Walters; eight grandchildren, eight great grandchildren and two fur babies, Gidget and Benson.
A celebration of life visitation will be held from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 3, 2019 at the Morrison Chapel of the Bosma-Renkes Funeral Home in Morrison, IL. Interment will be at 2:00 p.m. Friday, January 4th at the Rock Island National Cemetery, Rock Island, IL. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital in Memphis, TN.
Read More
Don was born in Monroe, WI on April 23, 1932, to Perry and Martha Walters. He defended our country in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. From 1950 – 1953 he served as a Master Sergeant during the Korean War. From 1954 – 1973 he served as a Master Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force, retiring with honors. He engaged as a training instructor with NATO, the primary focus on military weapons and training crews for NATO’s F104 aircraft at the former Air Force Tech School at Lowry Air Force Base in Colorado. Don was an avid sports fan, particularly the Chicago Cubs and Bears. He enjoyed traveling and was a competitive pinochle player. Don was a devoted husband, father, stepfather and grandfather. Thank you, Don Walters, for your service and sacrifice for our country; you will be truly missed.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Perry and Martha Walters, along with siblings Cletus, Cyril, Ralph, Basil, James, Helen and Dorothy. Don is survived by wife Diane Sue (Schroeder) Walters and siblings LeRoy, Thelma, Margaret and Mary. Also surviving are children: Marsha Naftzger, Michael (Showni) Crump, Michele (Marc) Smitherman, Monica (Dale) Gibler, Margo (Mike) Gregory, Lucille Miracle, Deborah Ann Hill, Donald Earl Walters Jr., Perry L. Walters and Terence Walters; eight grandchildren, eight great grandchildren and two fur babies, Gidget and Benson.
A celebration of life visitation will be held from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 3, 2019 at the Morrison Chapel of the Bosma-Renkes Funeral Home in Morrison, IL. Interment will be at 2:00 p.m. Friday, January 4th at the Rock Island National Cemetery, Rock Island, IL. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital in Memphis, TN.
To plant a tree in memory of Donald E. Walters, visit the Tribute Store.
Previous Events
Visitation
Thursday
3
Jan
4:00 PM
- 7:00 PM
Bosma-Renkes - Morrison Chapel
404 Lincolnway East
Morrison, IL 61270
Graveside
Friday
4
Jan
2:00 PM
Rock Island National Cemetery
Rock Island Arsenal
Rock Island, IL 61201
Loading...