Walter Leslie McConnell II was born to Walter Leslie and Helen Esther McConnell on April 17, 1918 in San Diego, CA. He was the oldest of six: Walter, John, Helen, Patricia (Pat), Richard (Dick), and Mary. When he was six months old, his parents moved to Bremerton and later to Silverdale, WA.
Walt graduated from Silverdale High School in 1936, where he played basketball and other sports. After high school, he briefly worked in Seattle driving a milk truck for his uncle’s dairy farm. Walt then started his apprenticeship to be a machinist working on the bench at Bangor, rotating between Bremerton and Keyport Naval Bases as needed by the Navy. Since Walt’s skills as a machinist were essential throughout World War II, he wasn’t released for military service until after the war. After serving in Japan and then Guam, he returned to work for the naval shipyards. He later studied mathematics and mechanical engineering at Olympic College and worked in tool design at the Keyport Naval Torpedo Station where he made his way up to be the department head. He retired from Keyport in the late 1970s but continued working for Honeywell for several years.
In 1954 Walt met the love of his life, Frances Clement, on a blind date while bowling. They married on July 22, 1955 and had three children: Kathleen, Walter, and Laura. In the 1980s, Simon Shiao, from Taiwan, was welcomed into their family when he came to the States to study violin. From the late 1950s, the family attended Keyport Bible Church where Walt served as an elder and chairman for the elders’ board, as well as teaching home Bible studies and Sunday school classes.
Walt and Fran loved to bowl, entertain, and travel, taking their family on many road trips around the country. They also enjoyed watching sports. After Walt and Fran retired, they spent many years travelling the world together. In the early 2000s they moved into Crista Shores in Silverdale where Walt took on leadership roles and enjoyed spending time with friends. Following the passing of Fran, Walt moved in with his daughter, Kathleen, in Keyport.
Walt dedicated his life to loving and serving the Lord Jesus Christ. His personal and deep relationship with Jesus was clearly evident as he faithfully led his family and portrayed the love of Christ to all who knew him. He and Fran opened their home to missionaries, pastors, and people from other cultures. They also saw each of their children spend time serving in overseas missions. Walt was an active Gideon for over forty years and spent many years volunteering at Island Lake Bible Camp. He read the Bible daily and enjoyed singing hymns. Walt prayed fervently for his family, friends, and church, faithfully maintaining this ministry until the end. He eagerly waited for his time to be with the Lord and in his last days often said, “To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord, and that’s the only place to be!” Walt’s desire was to transition to Glory “according to Scripture,” praising God from this life into the next. Departing this life on May 6, 2023, he finally met his Savior face to face.
Walt is survived by his three children, 11 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, and their families. His immediate children and spouses are Kathleen and Jeff Haag, Walter and Claire McConnell, and Laura and Rolf Aske. His grandchildren and their spouses [and children] are Matthew Livingstone and Kate Shearer [Patrick], Joshua and Isabel Haag [Raegan and Merritt], Jessica Haag, Stephanie and Luke Gendro [Katie, Addie, Ellie and Danny], Louise and Martin Foster [Torin and Cade], Daniel and Emma Livingstone [Isaac and Sophie], Julianne Haag, Joshua Aske, Deborah McConnell, Jennifer and James Huard [Billy], and Joshua and Judith Livingstone [Judah].
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to The Gideon’s International at: Poulsbo Camp U46124; P.O. Box 909; Poulsbo, WA 98370
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