The life and legacy of a decorated World War II veteran and retired Cummins engineer from Columbus was remembered Friday as a generous individual loved by others.
More than 75 people attended a memorial service inside a hangar at the Columbus Municipal Airport for John Walter, who died Dec. 12 at age 96.
Walter was a longtime volunteer with the Atterbury-Bakalar Air Museum and helped design and build many of the displays seen today, said Nick Firestone, president of the museum. Walter helped design the tower of the rotating beacon inside the building, Firestone said.
“John had a big impact on the museum,” Firestone said. “Practically every display, he had a hand in it.”
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]
Walter was in the Army Corps and flew 35 combat missions over Germany as a B-17 Flying Fortress pilot. After the military, he moved to Columbus in 1949 to work for Cummins Engine Co.
Speakers during the service included Kay Wieser, whose uncle Tom Sevald was a co-pilot with Walter on their first mission serving overseas and was killed in action Sept. 28, 1944.
Wieser, who lives in Phoenix, Arizona, discovered Walter’s name online through a book he wrote, “My War,” after doing research about her uncle. She reached out to Walter for more information, and they met two years ago in Tucson, Arizona.
“If you looked up the greatest generation, John Walter’s picture would be there,” Wieser said. “You could ask him whatever you wanted and he would explain it in your terms.”
Wieser said it was important for her to travel to Columbus for the memorial because he kept her uncle’s memory alive.
“We wanted to do the same for him,” she said.
Indianapolis resident Linda Endris recalled meeting Walter nine years ago during a Last Plane Down ceremony in Dayton, Ohio. Walter also spoke at St. Barnabas Catholic School in Indianapolis during a career day about his military experience to her grandchildren and other students, Endris said.
“He was an awesome friend,” Endris said. “He was so generous. Everyone loved him.”
Walter’s son, Gary, and his wife, Gwen, were in attendance and received a flag from retired U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Mark Pillar.
Pillar told attendees he was impressed of Walter’s recollection of events and detailed writing in his book.
“The deeper I got into the book, I knew John well,” Pillar said. “John would tell you he was not a hero.”
Gary Walter said his father was an active individual and did many things for other individuals.
“He was a great son, a brother, husband, father,” he said.
John Foster, a member of the Bartholomew County Veterans Honor Guard, also reflected on Walter, adding that he was glad to have known and met him.
“He left this community a little better than he found it,” Foster said. “Thanks, my friend, job well done.”
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”John Walter” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Born: Feb. 19, 1921, in Washington, Indiana.
Education: Attend Long Beach Junior College in California after graduating from Washington High School. Graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in mechanical engineering in 1949.
Military service: He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force in 1942 and was assigned to the 95th Bomb Group of the 8th Air Force in England of August 1944. Walter flew 35 combat missions over Germany as a B-17 Flying Fortress pilot. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and five air medals.
Career: Cummins Engine Co., Columbus, where he held positions in product and manufacturing engineering, production, research and international divisions.
Community service: Volunteer for the Atterbury-Bakalar Air Museum, which opened in 1992.
Died: Dec. 12, 2017, in Columbus at age 96.
[sc:pullout-text-end]
