Obituary of Lawrence James Walter

Lawrence James Walter 1946 – 2015 A Brilliant Life Well-Lived. Lawrence James Walter was born on February 20, 1946 to Ferdinand and Mary Jo Walter in Hollywood, CA. He grew up in Sunland-Tujunga with his sisters Ann, Janet, Kathy, Mary Jo and Patty, as well as his brothers Fritz and Mike. As a child, he enjoyed time with family and sports. He attended Our Lady of Lourdes, and continued on to Alemany High School where he played football. Larry had a mischievous personality, always quick with a smile and laugh. After High School he served in the US Army from 1966 to 1968, tasked as a 9th Infantry Division infantryman in a combat role in Vietnam’s treacherous Mekong Delta beginning in January 1967. Specifically, he served with Charlie Company, 4th/47th Battalion in Lt. Jack Benedick’s 2nd Platoon. Larry is considered one of “The Boys of “67” as chronicled in the book by Dr. Andrew Wiest, and was the basis of a National Geographic documentary, “Brothers in War”, which premiered on their Nat Geo Channel in March 2014. Larry served his Country with dedication and bravery until he was seriously wounded in July, 1967. (http://www.9thinfantrydivision.com/html/walter1.htm). Larry narrowly escaped death in the jungles of Southeast Asia. He was wounded by a mortar round, with shrapnel imbedded in the right side of his head and left chest area just above his heart. Doctors weren’t holding out a lot of hope. While convalescing he was given more bad news. A chaplain told him that his father was sick and they didn’t know how much longer he had to live. Dealing with so much death at such a young age helped shape Larry upon his return to the states. He had an unparalleled love of life and nature. He was well traveled and lived in some of the most spectacular places on the west coast. For a time he called Alaska home. For years he was surrounded by the majestic redwoods in Blue Lake and Boulder Creek, CA. He also loved the ocean living in Santa Barbara, and in recent years, he eagerly looked forward to the annual camping trips to Carpinteria. Because he learned how fleeting life was while serving in Vietnam, Larry never really cared much about titles, positions or money. To him, squeezing every last morsel out of life was much more important. Even in his last days, he was emailing loved ones pictures of sunsets at Carpinteria to let them know that in the final moments of life, it is the memories and the beauty that we are surrounded by each day that really matters. Larry was a hard worker, putting in time as an employee at the Post Office before segueing into a career in construction as a superintendent and project manager. Larry displayed bravery on the battlefield in 1967, and fought just as valiantly against cancer. When doctors told him he had just a few months to live, he said with a laugh, “They’ve been telling me that my whole life!” His long fight with cancer ended on Wednesday, January 21, 2015 at Our Community House of Hope Hospice in Thousand Oaks, CA. In his final weeks, he was surrounded by a circle of love with family members at his side, and friends and family calling to chat with him. Larry was decent, loyal and witty and he remains a shining beacon to those of us left behind. He was given a second chance in life and never missed an opportunity to celebrate it. He is our beloved brother and we will carry him in our hearts forever. He is survived by his siblings: Ann Henry (Pat), Janet Weidner (John), Fritz Walter (Joanna), Kathy Sweigart (Paul), Mary Jo Jordan (Fred), Mike Stafford-Walter (Kate), Patty Bloomfield (James), as well as several nieces and nephews. The brilliance of Larry’s smile, his laughter and zeal for life will light up our memories forever. Funeral services will be held at 12:30p.m. on Saturday, January 31, 2015 at St. Clare's Catholic Church, 19606 Calla Way, Santa Clarita, CA 91351. Directors: Crippen's Santa Clarita Valley Mortuary #1952