Delbert "Del" Walter
Hayesville, North Carolina - Delbert "Del" Walter, a devoted family man, proud veteran, and dedicated community servant, passed away in his sleep on Sunday, March 23rd, 2025. He was 93.
Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, to the late Delbert and Cora Walter, Del served his country in the United States Navy during the Korean War. After his military service, he married Beryle Joan Wilson, and they raised a family together until her passing 65 years later. He had a 36-year career with Florida Power and Light, starting in Miami, Florida, as a lineman and retiring with distinction.
Following his move to Hayesville, Del continued to serve his community as a volunteer firefighter with the Shooting Creek Volunteer Fire Department.
He will be deeply missed by his loving family, including:
Sons: John and Tony, Daughter: Cora "Cissy" Granstaff and her husband, Jerry
Granddaughter: Dria Reed, whom he raised
Four additional grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren
Del is also survived by his close extended family members, including Rick and Sharon Sanderson, Sandee Simonton, Lonnie Walter, and Carol Schroeder.
The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to Niki Patterson, Del's full-time caregiver, who provided him with exceptional care and compassion over the past several years.
She contributed the following tribute:
Del, whom we called Poppy, was a man of quick instruction, always ready with a joke or to take a playfully antagonistic stance. It would not surprise me at all if, when he got to glory, he told Saint Peter just how to open that gate for him. Poppy was a family man and a proud veteran. He enjoyed being able to provide for those he cared about. He took immense care in fashioning a sturdy home and improving its every facet, giving his own family means of provision and security that he never had as a child. Poppy was a man who loved all things that moved, sunshine and watching NASCAR races. He has joyously reunited with Joan, his wife of 65 years, having missed and searched for her every day since she crossed over.
Del was a community-minded man in his own ways, though gruff on the outside. If he could help, he would, and if he could help you do something better, he would certainly share his knowledge of how to improve it. Early in his life, he had been told he wasn’t bright by educators. Life produced something very different, Del was skilled in most every trade: electric, construction, carpentry, plumbing, and automobiles. He drove himself to learn, trying to outrun that label from his childhood. I never could convince him of what a smart man he was. In his latter days, even with dementia creeping in, when he saw a child, he wanted to know what they wanted to do, where they were going to go to school, and encouraged their education. His rough old heart had ways of shining through in spite of himself. He was many things: a veteran, a father, a poppy, a lineman, a smart aleck, a fighter, a laugher, and a crier. He reminded me often what a pain I could be, and I will be forever grateful for that. He was my meanie, and I hope he is dancing in the sky with Nanny now. He outlived all eight of his siblings, fighting to and proudly winning that race.
Rest in peace, Poppy.
The family will have a private memorial service at the Good Shepherd Episcopal Church memory garden at a future date.
You may send tributes to the family at
www.townson-rose.com
