Elizabeth "Pat" M. Walter

Pat Walter died after a lengthy illness at the Port Orange Assisted Living Facility in Port Orange, Florida on August 22, 2022.  She was born August 3, 1941 in Birmingham, AL to John Sharp Meacham and Sara Medora Patton.

She attended school in the Alabama school system, where she met William Austin Walter, Jr. (Bill) when she was 16 years old.  They married four years later in Birmingham.  They both attended Auburn University. After attending Auburn, she and her husband Bill moved to Gainesville, FL for Bill to pursue advanced degrees.  Their first son William Austin Walter III was born in 1962.  Three years later, they moved to Daytona Beach, FL where their younger son, John Meacham Walter was born in 1966.  When the children were older, Pat enrolled in the Daytona Beach Community College where she completed her college degree in nursing and became a registered nurse.  For the next twenty-five years she worked as a beloved pediatric nurse in the offices of Dr. James White, Dr. Harold Gillis, and Dr. Louis Orezzoli.

For 20 years following her older son’s death from melanoma, Pat lovingly dedicated her time and energy to annual fundraising events for the Bill Walter III Melanoma Research Fund.  She worked with her family and friends to raise over $300,000 to assist melanoma patients & their families, to support cancer research specifically directed toward melanoma and to promote skin cancer awareness in the Volusia County community.

She was a devoted member of Westminister-by-the-Sea Presbyterian Church and an active participant in several civic organizations including Peninsula Juniors, the Junior Service League of Daytona Beach, and the Cherry Laurel Garden Club.  She also assisted in the fundraising for the Rotary Stock Car Racing Hall of Fame.

Pat and Bill both loved the water and had truly adventurous spirits. She taught swimming lessons to eager young swimmers and enjoyed water skiing and tennis.  She especially loved hosting many gatherings at their family lakehouse on Lake Broward and boating with her family and friends on the Intracoastal Waterway in Florida.  In winter she loved snow skiing in Colorado with her family and friends.

Pat was a wonderful representative for the healthcare systems company, Fiscal Information Inc.  Throughout Fiscal’s history she was always contributing to the company’s success.  She had a fun-loving, special talent for building friendships and strong working relationships wherever God placed her.

In the family she was famous for the photo albums and scrap books she assembled for her children and grandchildren.  Her favorite part of the day was taking long walks with her husband each morning at a nearby marina and along the beach.

Pat loved animals.  Jerry and Sidney, beloved family dog and cat, were like part of the family.  She loved mallard ducks, all types of wildlife and farm animals, and was especially fond of catching little green lizards and attaching them to her ears!

She is survived by her loving husband of 61 years, Dr. Bill Walter of Daytona, daughters in law Kathy Walter of Ft. Collins, CO and Caroline Walter of Mobile, AL; grandchildren Austin Walter (Kiaja) of Denver, CO, Katherine Walter Jordan (James) of Castle Rock, CO and John Martin Walter of Mobile, AL. She was preceded in death by both of her beloved sons William A. Walter III and John Meacham Walter, and both sisters Sally Meacham Spurgeon and Joan Meacham.

Services will be held Friday September 2, 2:00PM at Westminster-by-the-Sea Presbyterian Church, Daytona Beach Shores, Florida with Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Sumner officiating. Reception immediately following in the Fellowship Hall.  Shannon Maloney Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Port Orange Assisted Living Facility or to Halifax Hospice of Volusia County.  A special thank you to everyone who provided their love and care for Pat.