Walter entered the world in Nuremberg in 1974, born to Lula J. Glass, wife of a U.S. military officer stationed in Cold War-era Germany. Walt was a naturally curious toddler, and demonstrated a strong intellect early in life. He began kindergarten at 4 years old, and later skipped second grade to be exposed to a more advanced curriculum. As a young boy, he showed a keen interest in maps, and spent many an evening drawing surprisingly accurate maps of states he’d visited, and the cities and highways they comprised. It was also as a young child that Walt, based solely on their team colors, became a die-hard Dallas Cowboys football fan. Family lore recounts how Dallas’ loss in Super Bowl X left a young Walt in tears.
Walt became a big brother to sisters Lauren and Shannon in the 1970s, and the family lived for ten years in Cincinnati, OH, before moving to Woodbridge, VA in 1988. Walt loved being a big brother to “Frere” and “Dudley” with the appropriate amounts of teasing and protection, even into their adult years. Walt even brokered the introduction of Frere to her current husband. Walt attended Woodbridge Senior High School, graduating at 16 years old and subsequently attending George Mason University, where he majored in English. Walt used his interest in the English language in his career as an editor, working in private industry, for the federal government, and at times maintaining his own small business, Write Now Editorial Services.
Walt’s curiosity about his surroundings continued throughout his teen and adult life, extending to war history (specifically the Civil War and World War I), weather tracking (he was the family’s daily weather observer and forecaster), and perhaps, most significantly, music. Walt developed a deep appreciation for heavy metal music during his high school years, appreciating 80s bands Van Halen and Metallica as well as classic rock bands such as the Rolling Stones, the Doors and Queen. He especially appreciated the intersection of different musical genres, such as Aerosmith and Run DMC’s mashup of “Walk This Way,” Guns ‘N Roses’ classical-style ballads, and Prince’s work across the music spectrum. Elective music courses at university helped him gain an appreciation for classical music, his favorite work being Mozart’s “Eine Kleine Nacht Musik.” Walt’s curiosity and intellect made him a natural trivia buff: he was the partner everyone wanted trivia night and the person with whom you never wanted to watch Jeopardy. He also had a deep love for film, and his tastes were eclectic. He could easily tell you as much about Top Gun as he could Amadeus or Lawrence of Arabia.
Walt had the good fortune to meet his first wife, Tyuana in 2000 and in the years that followed, they married, settled in southern Maryland, and had son Alex. After their marriage ended, Walt and Tyuana forged a strong friendship and co-parenting relationship that lasted the rest of his life. In Alex, Walt discovered the shoes he was born to fill: father. Alex and Walt’s bond is indescribable. He had a variety of nicknames for Alex, and every single time he said good-bye to Alex, it was always “Dad loves the Pooh”, a throwback to his original nickname for Alex. As a child, Walt was Alex’s childhood hero and teenage best friend and confidant. From movies to miniature golf, to just cooking dinner, Walter’s time with Alex was always time well spent. Alex was, in Walt’s words, “the best thing I do with my life”.
In 2018, Walt happily met his future wife Keir Lewis. In each other, they found a kindred soul; a love of language, poetry, sports, trivia and most of all, family. They dated throughout the pandemic, and subsequently became engaged to be married. Walt and Keir were married in a beautiful ceremony on April 8, 2023. Keir and Walt enjoyed traveling annually to the Cape, as well as spending time together discovering the simple beauties of Southern Maryland. In Keir, Walt discovered a peace and joy, which they enjoyed - with Alex - before his health began to deteriorate.
Walt was surrounded by his family and friends as he transitioned on Friday, 24 November. Surviving family include wife, Keir Lewis; son, Alex; mother, Lula J. Glass; sisters, Shannon (Jake) Jacobs, and Lauren Bailey (Adam Mittman); former wife and friend Tyuana Bailey; sister-in-law Erin Roberts; brother-in-law Demian (Audra) Lewis, nieces, Bryony, Samara and Acacia Mittman, and Mia Roberts; nephew, Aidan Johnson; a host of young people he loved very much who call him “Uncle Walter”, as well as many lifelong friends and colleagues who meant the world to him.
Walter’s irreverent sense of humor and kindness left an indelible impression on so many wherever he went, and he leaves a myriad of people to tell his stories, including coworkers and friends on social media, who began to follow his #dadlife, his woes of being a sports fan, his love of music, and his fierce unwavering love of Alex. Walt was passionate about being philanthropic. He got involved in many causes, including the tornado that devastated Southern Maryland in 2002, Hurricane Katrina, the water catastrophe in Flint, MI, and regularly donated to the Children’s Aid Society during the holidays. It was not unusual to find Walt, on a payday Friday, stopping by the store to purchase items and then dropping them off at the local shelter.
A celebration of Walter’s life will be held on Friday, December 15, 2023 at 11:00 am at the Point of View Retreat Facility of George Mason University located at 7301 Old Spring Dr, Lorton, VA 22079. Parking is limited, so please carpool.
In Lieu of Flowers memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association
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