Walter L. Sprouse Jr.

Born July 16, 1928 in Union, SC to Mr. Walter L. Sprouse Sr and Mrs. Mason Herring Sprouse, Walt and his four brothers and sisters grew up in a loving but modest home that epitomized small town America where his father worked at the textile mill and as a volunteer firefighter during the depression and WWII years.

In July 1945 at the age of 17, and requiring his parent’s permission, Walt entered service in the United States Navy to serve in WWII. At the time of his enlistment the country was anticipating having to invade Japan to win the war not knowing that the atomic bomb would be used one month later. Walt spent most of his service in the Pacific Theater as a Seabee and aboard the supply ship USS Arequipa (AF-31) sailing between San Francisco, Hawaii, the Philippines, China, and Japan. Walt also took part in viewing some of the first nuclear bomb tests at Bikini Atoll.

After leaving the USN Walt moved to Atlanta where he met his future wife Marie (Polly) Nolen marrying in 1952 and raising four children. He initially had jobs working for Firestone and Sears, but most remember him during his time working for Snap-On-Tools. Starting as a credit manager, Walt found his true gift to be in sales as a tool dealer working a territory from Buckhead to Alpharetta that exploded in growth in the mid 1970s to mid 1980s. He earned numerous sales awards and vacation trips where he and Polly travelled the Caribbean and Hawaii together. Retiring from Snap-on-Tools, Walt became a volunteer worker at St Joseph’s hospital for over 20 years. As a former UGA student Walt was always a loyal fan of the Bulldogs, Braves, and Falcons and you’d likely see him with an earphone in and a wire running to his shirt pocket radio listening to the game.

Walter L. Sprouse Jr is preceded in death by his parents, beloved wife of 68 years Polly, daughters Lisa Suzanne (infant) and Sharon, brothers Irvin and Bob, sisters Elizabeth and Geraldine. He is survived by son and daughter-in-law Stephen and Barbara of Douglasville, GA; son and daughter-in-law Philip and Debra of Canton, GA; son and daughter-in-law Brent and Vickie of Canyon, TX; grandchildren Heather, Joshua, Kenneth, Jared, Rachel, great granddaughter Ellie Grace, and sister-in-law Sara Sprouse of Union, SC.

Graveside services will be held at Crest Lawn Memorial Park in Atlanta on Tuesday January 12, 2021 at 1pm with a zoom link to family and friends.

Psalms 27:4

One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.