Walter C. McNamee-CMSGT-USAF

Walter Charles McNamee returned home to our Heavenly Father at 94 years of age in his home on Saturday May 20, 2023. Walter was born on November 22, 1928, in Delaware, OH to Walter Eli McNamee and Ruth Irene McNamee where he was raised on a farm with three sisters. He attended Brown High School and graduated in 1946. Walter enlisted in the Air Force after graduation, along with a friend from school because he was, in his own words, “ready to leave the farm.” Well-liked by many, he achieved the rank of Chief Master Sergeant during his 20 years of service. He also was awarded a World War II Victory Medal for his service during WWII. He served a one-year tour of duty abroad in Iceland in the early 1950s and spent his last nine years of service at the Pentagon in the computer division. On Valentine’s Day in 1951, he married his wife, Janetta. They had seven children together: James Michael, Mary Janet, Jeannine Marie, Martin Jerome, Steven Thomas, John Walter, and Rosalia Ruth. Walter loved the outdoors and was a Boy Scout in his younger years. When Mike (James), his son was old enough to join the Cub Scouts, Walt and Janetta joined as leaders in the local troop. As his children grew up, he later moved into Boy Scout leadership. He often went camping and hiking with the Boy Scouts, and with his family.

After retiring from military service, Walt became a high school teacher at Crossland High School in Prince George’s County, Maryland, where he spent 23 years. In April of 1974, he joined Elks Lodge 2332 in Camp Springs, Maryland. He advanced through the ranks to that of  Exalted Ruler, the head of the lodge. After retiring from teaching, Walter resided in Northeast Ohio with his wife, Janetta, until she passed away in 2003. Through a mutual friend at Immaculate Conception Church in Grafton, Ohio, he was introduced to Geraldine Davis, whom he later married on November 25, 2005. In joining this new family with Gerry, he gained two daughters, Kathryn and Karen, and two granddaughters, Jordan and Hannah. Walt was a proud grandfather of six grandchildren, Tiffany, Brian, Arianna, Crystal, Adam, and David. His family grew to also include eight great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. He had an immense love for golf, bowling, and dancing.

Through the end of his life, he was an avid golfer and bowler, participating weekly on teams and in leagues. He was even the corn hole champion of the Americana Cove community. On every Friday night, you could find him and Gerry dancing the night away at the Elk’s Lodge in St. Petersburg, FL. Walter was full of life and love, and he will be dearly missed by all who knew him. He was preceded in death by his wife Janetta, sisters Roxie Pauline, Amy Irene, and Ruth Justine, daughters Janet and Rosalia, and son Steven. He is survived by his wife, Gerry, six children, eight grandchildren, eight great grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild.

There will be a celebration of life at St. Raphael’s Church, located at 1376 Snell Isle Blvd NE in St. Petersburg, FL 33704. A viewing will be held at the church on Friday May 26, 2023, at 10:00 AM, followed by a funeral mass at 10:30 AM. Walter will be laid to final rest in Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. Please join us in celebrating our beloved Walt as he returns home to Heaven.