Richard Jenkins Walter
July 13, 1940 ~ September 7, 2024
Born in:
Bryn Mawr, PA
Resided in:
Vienna, VA
Richard Jenkins Walter, age 84, of Vienna, Virginia, passed away at home on September 7, 2024.
Richard was born on July 13, 1940, in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, to the late George Franklin Walter, Jr., and the late Ruth Naomi Jenkins Walter. He grew up in Elizabeth City, N.C., where he attended Elizabeth City High School and graduated from the College of the Albemarle with an Associate of Arts degree in 1964. Richard served his country in the U.S. Air Force from 1958 to 1962, stationed at Cape Canaveral, Florida, where he worked on the Titan I, and served in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve from 1962 to 1965.
Richard married Sandra Lee Parson in April 1966. They were married for 58 years and lived in Vienna, Virginia, where they raised their family.
Throughout his life, Richard was known for his remarkable storytelling, often sharing memories of growing up in Elizabeth City and summers spent in Nags Head, N.C. One of his favorite stories was about the time he and his lifelong friend, Warren Pierce, rescued a couple from drowning in the Pasquotank River in 1955. Their heroic actions earned them recognition from the Lions Club and were featured in the local newspapers.
A natural problem-solver, Richard could fix anything around the house, especially electronics. He believed in repairing and reusing items rather than discarding them. His hands-on approach to life was evident throughout his long and varied career. After his military service, Richard worked for Atlantic Research, Dominion Virginia Power, and Allied Signal Aerospace. In the early 1990s, he retrained in computers, transitioning to administrative roles before retiring in 2005.
Richard had a deep love for his family, trains, genealogy, and animals, especially his beloved cats. He was an active member of the Washington, D.C. chapter of the National Railway Historical Society (NRHS) and previously participated in the Old Dominion Division of the Railway Enthusiasts in Vienna, Virginia. He held past memberships in the Fairfax Genealogical Society and the Northampton County (Pennsylvania) Historical & Genealogical Society. He volunteered many hours at the Shepherd’s Center of Northern Virginia.
Richard rode trains across the country many times—among them, two were especially memorable: in March 2019, he traveled with his daughter Sarah from Washington, D.C. to Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Austin; and in March 2024, he embarked on another cross-country adventure with his daughter Annie, culminating in a family gathering in Texas. These trips were filled with scenic vistas, laughter, and long conversations, and remained among his most cherished memories.
Richard had an outgoing personality and enjoyed spending time with friends in the NRHS, his Dominoes and Canasta groups, and his McDonald’s coffee crew. His sense of humor and unique personality made him a beloved friend to many, and he deeply valued the joy and camaraderie these gatherings brought him.
He is survived by his wife, Sandra Lee Parson Walter; his daughters, Anna (Annie) Marie Walter and Sarah Adele Walter; his grandchildren, Kelsey Marie Walter-Johnson (Otey), Megan Ruthanne Walter-Johnson, and Jacob Dillon Walter-Johnson; and his great-grandson, Carter Thompson Walter-Johnson, with a great-granddaughter due in December 2024 and a great-grandson expected in March 2025. He will be dearly missed by his loving family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his father, George Franklin Walter, Jr., and mother, Ruth Naomi Jenkins Walter; his siblings, Naomi Adele Brice, James Bray Walter, Sr., Lea Louise Gregory, and Carole Marie Earle.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Money & King Funeral Home in Vienna, Virginia, on Sunday, October 27, 2024, starting at 1 p.m., with a gathering to follow at Bear Branch Tavern from 2-4 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:
American Heart Association (heart.org/en/get-involved/ways-to-give)
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (aspca.org/ways-to-give)
National Railway Historical Society (nrhs.com/giving)
Planned Parenthood (plannedparenthood.org/donate)
Shepherd’s Center of Northern Virginia (scnova.org/donate)
Services
Memorial Service: October 27, 2024 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Money and King Funeral Home
171 W. Maple Ave.
Vienna, VA 22180
703-938-7440
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RichardJenkinsWalterMemorial Service
Memorial Service
171 W. Maple Ave. ,Vienna, VA 22180
Funeral Reception: October 27, 2024 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Bear Branch Tavern
133 Maple Ave E
Vienna, VA 22180
(571) 669-3663
https://www.bearbranchtavern.com/
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2024-10-27 04:00:00
RichardJenkinsWalterFuneral Reception
Funeral Reception
133 Maple Ave E,Vienna, VA 22180
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Charities
The family greatly appreciates donations made to these charities in Richard Jenkins Walter 's name.
Shepherd's Center of Northern Virginia
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
National Railway Historical Society
Planned Parenthood
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Richard Walter was a close friend of mine from the early school grades in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. I never knew a nicer person. We often shared riveting stories while enjoying lunch together in the school cafeteria. Richard would do anything for other people and also for the advancement of the railroad. Richard appears in my book series “Adventures of a Southern Boyhood” under the name Walt. We stayed in close touch over the years. I will miss Richard for the rest of my days. May he enjoy holy rest.
William E. Dunstan
Chapel Hill, North Carolina