Thomas Joseph Walters

Thomas Joseph Walters completed his earthly pilgrimage and was welcomed into the arms of his Lord and Savior, on the evening of May 24, 2019 at the Lower Cape Fear Hospice Care Center, one week before his 85th birthday. Tom is survived by his loving family: wife Catherine, sons John Lloyd, Paul, and Stephen (Jenny), grandchildren Marisa, Ethan, Carter, and Molly Fiona, and beloved grand dog Biscuit. Tom had a difficult childhood between orphanages and different foster homes before landing in the loving home of the predeceased Lloyd and Ellen Duebler in Middleton, NY. He joined the US Navy after high school serving four years during the Korean Conflict where he received training as an electrician. Following his service, Tom attended night classes while working full time with a new family at home and earned his Degree in Electrical Engineering from Adelphi University. He worked at Sperry Gyroscope, Lake Success, LI, NY. Tom, Catherine and his young family moved from Queens NY to Webster NY in the mid1960s where he worked as an Engineer with Xerox, designing and using quality control methods for Xerox Copiers for over 30 years. He took an early retirement to provide daycare for his young grandchildren. While in New York Tom was active in his Catholic parish as a religious education teacher, was Cub Scout Master while his sons were active in scouting, coached youth baseball and basketball teams, and volunteered collecting and transporting food to many local charitable organizations. As he did not have a true home for much of his childhood, Tom and Catherine welcomed many to their home over the years who needed love and a sense of home during the Holidays, or children from the Fresh Air Program seeking a summer vacation home away from New York City. Tom enjoyed baseball, basketball, and football and any sport his grandchildren were playing in. He loved cooking, reading, history, and animals. Since 1999 Tom and Catherine resided in Wilmington, NC near Carolina Beach. Together they provided daycare for their four grandchildren. Tom was a member of Immaculate Conception RC Church. He enjoyed gardening, going to the beach and rarely missed a grandchild's sporting event from tee-ball age through high school. May Perpetual Light shine upon you, Tom. RIP. Private services will be held by the family. If you wish, donations in Tom’s memory can be sent to LCFH, 1414 Physicians Drive, Wilmington.

Thomas Joseph Walters

May 31, 1934 - May 24, 2019