Walter Polen

Walter R. Polen, 94, of New Port Richey, FL, passed away on April 14, 2014, at Consulate Health Care of Bayonet Point in Hudson, FL. He was born in Kingston, OH and moved to Florida in 1987 from Ohio. He met his wife, Annabelle, when they were traveling on a train. After on three and one-half months of marriage, he went to basic training and was sent to Europe on the Queen Mary.

He served his country during World War II, as a member of the US Army 1st Infantry Division, the Big Red 1. He saw extensive action in North Africa and Europe. In 1943, while in North Africa, the squad he served in was taken captive by the German Army and held in Tunisia before being rescued by a combined Btritish and Canadian Infantry Unit.  While he was not on the opening assault on Normandy, he went ashore a few days later.  As a Heavy Machine Gunner, he saw action in Tunisia, Sicily, Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, the Ardennes (Battle of the Bulge), and Central Europe.  He was awarded aBronze Star, Good Conduct Medal and European – African – Middle Eastern Medal with 7 Bronze battle Stars.

Following the war, he worked for nearly 30 years as a Salesman for the Moore’s auto chain in Newark, OH. In June of 1966, he was promoted to District Supervisor of Moore’s and was responsible for 10 stores. He finished his working career as a Manager of the Montgomery Wards Auto and Service Center. He was a lifetime member of the American Legion, enjoying the pool and poker games, and the Big Red 1. He attended several reunions of the US Army Big Red 1 around the United States and once traveled to Europe to visit some of the locations he had seen during World War II.

After moving to Florida, he became a member of the First Baptist Church in New Port Richey. Walter was a sports enthusiast enjoying NCAA March Madness and filling out the brackets each year, Cincinnati Reds spring training baseball, horseshoes, badminton and croquet. He loved helping others in need, playing with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and reading the newspaper daily. He enjoyed country music and really loved his wife’s meatloaf, potato salad, green beans with bacon and creamed lima beans. His favorite drink was beer and his favorite color was blue. He was a hero to his family for the way he took care of his wife when she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.

He was preceded in death, by his parents, Rancie and Gertie; all of his siblings, Paul, Gladys, Howard, Ada, and Robert; and his beloved wife of 63 years, Annabelle. His daughters, Nancy Hanck of Springhill, FL and Patricia Polen of New Port Richey; four grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren survive him.

A service with Military Honors will be held at Florida National Cemetery located in Bushnell, FL, on Thursday, April 17, 2014, at 11:00AM. Following the service, he will be interred with his beloved wife, Annabelle.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a memorial donation be made in Walter’s name to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. On the foundation website, www.alzfdn.org, go to the Donate button and that will lead you through the process.