Reverend William Nelson Walter

Reverend William Nelson Walter, 93, of Union Springs, NY died peacefully in his sleep on May 21, 2017 with family members by his side. A Masonic funeral service will be held on June 3rd at 5:00 pm. The family will receive friends and relatives on June 3rd from 6:00-8:00 pm. A funeral service will be held on June 4th at 2:00 pm followed by time to share memories. All will be held at the First United Methodist Church in Weedsport at 2744 East Brutus St.

In lieu of flowers, the family recommends donations be made in memory of Rev. Walter to the Upper New York Annual Conference (UNYAC) Casowasco Campership Funds at 158 Casowasco Drive; Moravia NY 13118 (Joan@unyumc.org ) or the NYS Masonic Scholarship Fund.  Casowasco

Rev. Walter was deeply committed to God, his family and his community; he was always ready to serve wherever needed. He was humble and infinitely compassionate. He touched hundreds of lives through kind words and deeds. He was rarely sentimental, slow to anger, mischievously humorous and never passed a person in distress without offering assistance or comfort. Whether it was changing a stranger's tire, or shaking men's hands with AIDS in hospice care before anyone knew how it was transmitted, or sitting with families in distress in the middle of the night facing illness, death, or legal issues or helping families re-build their lives, or countless other kind acts, Reverend Walter, undauntedly spent countless hours caring for all people especially if they might be overlooked by others as the lost or the least.  Rather than only preaching his faith, he lead by example and made the world a better place. He will be sorely missed. 

Rev Walter considered every person he met to be capable of goodness and a valuable member of his own flock. He strongly believed in working to improve individual lives and community relationships including advancing the rights of all people.  He joined the March in Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963 that culminated in Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech.  He participated in community Interfaith Ministry efforts and respected others’ religious beliefs.  He was grateful to be allowed to attend Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous as a supportive guest.  He volunteered for and sat on the board of the Auburn Hospitality Center in support of families of prisoners at Auburn Correctional Facility.  Rev Walter and his wife, Carolyn, often brought their children to meetings and to volunteer always reinforcing the message that “there, but for the Grace of God, go I”. 

On the rare occasion when he spoke of the night before advancing to Normandy Beach on D-Day, Rev. Walter described being infused with an incredible sense of peace knowing that whether he lived or died, he was in God's hands. On many occasions he went out of his way to say that he was not special or extraordinary but that "We do not get to God or receive God's Love and Grace because of the things we do, because of the rules we follow, the number of times we go to church, or how much we give. Rather, we do those things because God is with us already and because he has already given his Love and Grace to us." This fundamental belief was reflected in his life of service to his congregations and his community.

Rev. Walter was born in Auburn, NY to the late Dorothy (Amerman) and David Walter in 1924 as the eldest of eight siblings (the late Frank, Agnes, Dorothy, Robert, Mary, and the surviving Beatrice, David, and Cheryl).  He graduated from Union Springs Central School and served in the European Theatre in World War II. He received an Associate’s degree from Keystone College (1949) before graduating with a BA from Lycoming College (1952). He then received a Master's degree of Sacred Theology from Duke University, and continued to study theology and counseling throughout his life (Union Theological Seminary, Cornell University and Onondaga Counseling Center).

Rev. Walter became an ordained minister of the Methodist Church in 1955. He first served as a lay minister in Factoryville, PA.  After ordination, he served in many churches in Central New York including Lodi, Logan, Tyrone, Pharsalia, Wayne, South Otselic, Pitcher, Weedsport, Brick Church, Montezuma, and Borodino.  The Thompson Memorial African Methodist Episcopalian Zion Church (the home church of Harriet Tubman) generously made him an honorary pastor. 

In 1964, Rev. Walter received Ecclesiastical Endorsement by the Methodist Commission on Chaplains for full time service as a chaplain in prisons and mental health facilities. He served as a chaplain at Camp Georgetown, Camp Pharsalia, Clifton Springs Hospital Alcohol Rehabilitation Unit (as a consultant), Auburn Memorial Hospital, Auburn Correctional Facility, Willard Correctional Facility, and Butler Correctional Facility. He volunteered to enlist as a Chaplain during Desert Storm.

In his personal commitment to consciously "serve his community and his congregation", Rev. Walter volunteered as a fireman, ambulance driver and devoted 37 years to the Boy Scouts, 6 of which he was a scout master. He directed and worked in more than 150 camping terms for boy scout, masonic and church camps, including wilderness and canoeing camps. He was a lifetime member of NAACP, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Auburn Memorial Hospital Association including its Institutional Review Board. He was declared "Man of the Year" in Weedsport in the mid-1970s. He was active in the Masonic Order as NY State Grand Chaplain for 15 years ultimately becoming a Grand Chaplain Emeritus in 2014. He was the Cayuga-Tompkins District Deputy Grand Master with responsibility for 17 local lodges, Chair of the NY Masonic Ritual Committee, and a member of the Scottish Rite and Shriners.  

Rev Walter is survived by his wife of 60 years, Carolyn McDowell Walter; his six children and their families of whom he was very proud: Carolyn Ostrander (Vance and children: Mercy (Michael) and Aaron Keisch-Walter) Nelson (Beth and children: Jamie, Julie and Mac;), David (Tomoko and children Jennifer, Royce and Shannon), Jonathan (Kathryn and children Kelly and Ian), Helen Walter-Terrinoni (Al Terrinoni), and Anna Chappell (children Vivian, Thomas, Katie, and William).  

Shakelton’s Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements. Copyright © 2017 Helen Walter-Terrinoni

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