Walter Lance Dubicki passed away July 21, 2013. He was born in Detriot, MI to Walter and Genevieve, nee Koziol. He was preceded in death by his sister, Sylvia Mugnolo. He is survived by his wife, Beverly, children, Lisa and Lance, Jeff and his wife, Jessica Lyons, and 12 grandchildren. Memorial contributions may take the form of donations to Kosair Children’s Hospital.
Walt‘s nickname was Sunny as a child because of his constant smile and friendly disposition. He always helped his mother, even with dishes and mending. He adored his baby sister, even taking her on dates with him. On his first hunting trip as a boy, his coat button got caught in the trigger of his gun and Sunny accidentally shot his Dad through the shoe, barely missing his foot.
Later he was called Wally by his many friends at Dearborn High School where he also began building his reputation as a prankster. On one occasion, Walt and his buddies lifted a VW beetle onto a friend’s porch in the middle of the night, as a surprise when his Dad came to get the paper in the morning.
An all-star athlete in sports of all kinds, Walt was Michigan track & field state champion in the 800 meters. Captain of the swimming and football teams, he received college scholarships in both. His baritone voice was at once soft and powerful, and he also played the baritone horn. “CC Rider” was a tune he liked to sing at one time.
Choosing Michigan State University, Walt was starting running back for the football team. He had a knee injury and lost his scholarship, then enlisted in the Army. Neglecting to mention his injury, he finished out his eligibility as the starting running back for the Army football team.
Walt was in the US Army Security Agency stationed in Turkey to spy on Soviet submarines in the Black Sea. He was transferred to Viet Nam well before the US presence there was publically known. He was not allowed to tell his own family as his mother was still in touch with relatives in Poland, an Eastern-block country at the time.
He worked at various times as a bartender, entering professional drink-master competitions. He was a bouncer at a bowling alley and a bar for a time. Always gallant and chivalrous, he once allowed himself to be beat up by a drunken woman.
Walt was a hard worker and a dependable provider, even in hard times. He worked at Ford Motor Company for over 28 years. He also worked for International Harvester until its plant closed in Louisville. For one year, he actually worked full-time at both companies on different shifts. During economic downturns, he worked construction, house painting, or odd jobs to support his family.
Walt’s children always knew he would keep them safe, protected, and provided for. He was a man of his word who could always be counted on in any situation.
A handyman at home, Walt could fix anything. With his perfectionist nature, he kept everything he had in top working order. He always managed to pay the bills on time.
One thing you always noticed about Walt was his large and powerful hands He had beautiful handwriting. Even in grade school, he won penmanship competitions. One of his last services to his family was to fill in the title page of his daughter’s wedding album, which they had procrastinated for 21 years.
His favorite color was red. Whether it be his new car or the U of L Cardinals he was a fan of, it was his color of choice.
Walt was a private person, but also very social. He enjoyed giving or attending card parties, pool parties, cookouts, and conventions. He was usually the bartender and chief prankster.
One memorable Halloween, Walt and his friends dressed as gangsters and gun Molls. However, the ladies dressed as the gangsters while the gentlemen were the gun Molls. Clad in full makeup, long blonde wig, a borrowed dress embellished to size EEE, and Big Mama panty hose, he so much time flirting with all the proper men at the party, he neglected to eat or drink the entire evening.
With his swimming background, he taught his children and grandchildren to enjoy the water, and almost always had a pool. Summer weekends were usually spent on the family houseboat with many friends at Lake Cumberland when Lisa and Lance were growing up. Vacations were typically spent in Florida on Daytona Beach, possibly with friends, neighboring families, or including nieces and nephews.
In his days of membership in the CB radio club he was known as Yankee Doodle. Lisa remembers enjoying steak and egg breakfasts at the Saturday morning CB club gatherings at Black Angus.
A long-time member of the Kosair Shrine Temple Legion of Honor, Walt was patrol leader for the formation unit. He enjoyed working at the circus to raise funds for the children’s hospital. He rarely missed a meeting of the Boaz Masonic Lodge where he kept the grass immaculately cut.
Walt enjoyed his grandchildren! Dubbing himself “Jacoby’s big toy,” he taught him how to blow baby food bubbles on Mama Bev. Samantha and Daniel will surely remember trips to Florida and evenings sitting with Mama Bev and Papa Walt watching her Daddy (Jeff) play softball. Noah and Izzy share memories of swimming in the pool with Papa Walt.
Ceanna remembers going to the beach and Disney World during her trips to Florida. Matthew enjoyed Bourbon Street Chicken with Papa Walt at Hometown Buffet, though he did not join him for ice cream dessert. Matthew prefers his sprinkles without their usual dairy accompaniment.
Ghia-Ghia (Polish for grandpa) made up a rain dance to entertain his Texas grandchildren during a Florida visit. They say it goes something like this, “Hhhhheeeeeehhhhhhyyyooooyyyeehhheeeeyyyyooooyyy!” You’ll have to ask one of them how to pronounce that.
One of Walt’s childhood memories was of silver dollars given him by his own Ghia-Ghia, one at a time, whenever he visited. Though his own collection was either lost or stolen years ago, Walt continued the tradition with his grandchildren. Some have a strong interest in numismatics largely due to this legacy, and one might even like to be a coin dealer when he grows up.
Bev dearly loved her husband of 18 years. Her fondest memories include sharing projects to beautify their home and yard. They enjoyed trips to their Florida home, and visiting Sylvia and Chuck at theirs. Many an evening and weekend were spent at softball games, where Walt was Jeff’s biggest fan.
Walt lived his life to the fullest. All of us in his family hope you have as many good memories as we do.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
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