Joseph Arthur Walls Jr.

Joseph Arthur Walls Jr., know as Bud to the many many who loved him, passed away May 3 in the early morning hours. He was 87 years old. Bud is survived by his loving wife Lynn, his children Mark, Kim and David, his daughter-in-laws Karen and Valerie, and his grandchildren Johanna, Gemma, Ben, Willa, and Ava. Bud attended Jamaica High where as President of the Senior class he captured the eye of his lovely future bride. Their marriage was long, loving and lasted 64 years. His life was filled with accomplishments, from Captain of his New York Community College waterpolo team, to an appointment to the Presidential Honor Guard in Washington D.C., and a career as an AT&T Bell Telephone Laboratories Executive. He was a larger than life fellow who was known for a yearly climb of an 80 foot spruce tree in Mountainside, NJ to hoist the pole of Xmas lights, sailing his Island Packet with his trusty first mate Lynn from Shelter Island to Nantucket, performing perfect swan dives off the high dive at the local pool or the cliffs of Kaui, and joining the Coast Guard Auxillary when he and Lynn resettled in Orleans. He loved working with his hands whether it was his handyman work when he retired, refurbishing tall ships in the South Street Seaport or helping with the renovation of the famous Coast Guard rescue boat the 36500, or making beautiful stain glass sculptures as presents for his family. He was a consummate gentleman, a loyal friend, a loving husband, a devoted father and an adored Pop Pop. Everyone who met him liked him. Everyone who knew him loved him. We will miss him dearly.