William Walters didn't fly with the famed Tuskegee Airmen, but he made sure their equipment ran well.
Walters was responsible for the maintenance and repair of all radios in the planes used by the all-black unit.
A resident of Denver for almost 60 years, Walters died Dec. 21. He was 91.
William Walters spent much of his life teaching electronics, including stints at Lowry Air Force Base and Metropolitan State College of Denver.
"He was probably one of the most brilliant guys at Lowry Air Force Base," said longtime friend Harry Waters of Denver. Waters took instruction from Walters at Tuskegee, Ala., though he wasn't an airman.
While at Tuskegee, Walters took physics, chemistry and mechanical industries courses.
In 1950, he was head of the electrical department at Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, Ala., and then came to Lowry. He taught several courses at Lowry and was a part-time instructor in electronic engineering at Metro State and Denver Public Schools.
William A. Walters was born in Muskogee, Okla., on March 2, 1918, and moved with his family to Wichita and later Denver. He graduated from East High School and was one of only a few blacks at the school in 1936, said his son.
Walters had a knack for debating and hoped to be a lawyer, his son said. Instead, he joined the Army Air Force and learned radio repair, first working at Chanute Field in Rantoul, Ill.
He became communications chief at Tuskegee Army Air Base in Alabama, where he was in charge of radios in the 890th Single Engine Flying Training Squadron.
He married Rachel Beasley in 1942. She died in 1995.
In addition to his son, Walters is survived by several nephews and nieces.
Thank you Sparkysgrl for sponsoring this memorial.
∼WALTERS, WILLIAM A
ORIGINAL TUSKEGEE AIRMAN
Denver. Father of Mark (Renee) Walters; devoted friend of Harry Waters, Sr.; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Visitation Friday, 4-9pm. Alpha Omega Service, 6:00pm both Kirk Chapel. Services Saturday, 11:00am, Zion Baptist Church, 933 E. 24th Ave. to Fairmount Cemetery. Mr. Walters will lie in state from 10-11:00am at the church. Published in Denver Post from December 30, 2009 to January 1, 2010
Walters was responsible for the maintenance and repair of all radios in the planes used by the all-black unit.
A resident of Denver for almost 60 years, Walters died Dec. 21. He was 91.
William Walters spent much of his life teaching electronics, including stints at Lowry Air Force Base and Metropolitan State College of Denver.
"He was probably one of the most brilliant guys at Lowry Air Force Base," said longtime friend Harry Waters of Denver. Waters took instruction from Walters at Tuskegee, Ala., though he wasn't an airman.
While at Tuskegee, Walters took physics, chemistry and mechanical industries courses.
In 1950, he was head of the electrical department at Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, Ala., and then came to Lowry. He taught several courses at Lowry and was a part-time instructor in electronic engineering at Metro State and Denver Public Schools.
William A. Walters was born in Muskogee, Okla., on March 2, 1918, and moved with his family to Wichita and later Denver. He graduated from East High School and was one of only a few blacks at the school in 1936, said his son.
Walters had a knack for debating and hoped to be a lawyer, his son said. Instead, he joined the Army Air Force and learned radio repair, first working at Chanute Field in Rantoul, Ill.
He became communications chief at Tuskegee Army Air Base in Alabama, where he was in charge of radios in the 890th Single Engine Flying Training Squadron.
He married Rachel Beasley in 1942. She died in 1995.
In addition to his son, Walters is survived by several nephews and nieces.
Thank you Sparkysgrl for sponsoring this memorial.
∼WALTERS, WILLIAM A
ORIGINAL TUSKEGEE AIRMAN
Denver. Father of Mark (Renee) Walters; devoted friend of Harry Waters, Sr.; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Visitation Friday, 4-9pm. Alpha Omega Service, 6:00pm both Kirk Chapel. Services Saturday, 11:00am, Zion Baptist Church, 933 E. 24th Ave. to Fairmount Cemetery. Mr. Walters will lie in state from 10-11:00am at the church. Published in Denver Post from December 30, 2009 to January 1, 2010
William Walters didn't fly with the famed Tuskegee Airmen, but he made sure their equipment ran well.
Walters was responsible for the maintenance and repair of all radios in the planes used by the all-black unit.
A resident of Denver for almost 60 years, Walters died Dec. 21. He was 91.
William Walters spent much of his life teaching electronics, including stints at Lowry Air Force Base and Metropolitan State College of Denver.
"He was probably one of the most brilliant guys at Lowry Air Force Base," said longtime friend Harry Waters of Denver. Waters took instruction from Walters at Tuskegee, Ala., though he wasn't an airman.
While at Tuskegee, Walters took physics, chemistry and mechanical industries courses.
In 1950, he was head of the electrical department at Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, Ala., and then came to Lowry. He taught several courses at Lowry and was a part-time instructor in electronic engineering at Metro State and Denver Public Schools.
William A. Walters was born in Muskogee, Okla., on March 2, 1918, and moved with his family to Wichita and later Denver. He graduated from East High School and was one of only a few blacks at the school in 1936, said his son.
Walters had a knack for debating and hoped to be a lawyer, his son said. Instead, he joined the Army Air Force and learned radio repair, first working at Chanute Field in Rantoul, Ill.
He became communications chief at Tuskegee Army Air Base in Alabama, where he was in charge of radios in the 890th Single Engine Flying Training Squadron.
He married Rachel Beasley in 1942. She died in 1995.
In addition to his son, Walters is survived by several nephews and nieces.
Thank you Sparkysgrl for sponsoring this memorial.
∼WALTERS, WILLIAM A
ORIGINAL TUSKEGEE AIRMAN
Denver. Father of Mark (Renee) Walters; devoted friend of Harry Waters, Sr.; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Visitation Friday, 4-9pm. Alpha Omega Service, 6:00pm both Kirk Chapel. Services Saturday, 11:00am, Zion Baptist Church, 933 E. 24th Ave. to Fairmount Cemetery. Mr. Walters will lie in state from 10-11:00am at the church. Published in Denver Post from December 30, 2009 to January 1, 2010
Walters was responsible for the maintenance and repair of all radios in the planes used by the all-black unit.
A resident of Denver for almost 60 years, Walters died Dec. 21. He was 91.
William Walters spent much of his life teaching electronics, including stints at Lowry Air Force Base and Metropolitan State College of Denver.
"He was probably one of the most brilliant guys at Lowry Air Force Base," said longtime friend Harry Waters of Denver. Waters took instruction from Walters at Tuskegee, Ala., though he wasn't an airman.
While at Tuskegee, Walters took physics, chemistry and mechanical industries courses.
In 1950, he was head of the electrical department at Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, Ala., and then came to Lowry. He taught several courses at Lowry and was a part-time instructor in electronic engineering at Metro State and Denver Public Schools.
William A. Walters was born in Muskogee, Okla., on March 2, 1918, and moved with his family to Wichita and later Denver. He graduated from East High School and was one of only a few blacks at the school in 1936, said his son.
Walters had a knack for debating and hoped to be a lawyer, his son said. Instead, he joined the Army Air Force and learned radio repair, first working at Chanute Field in Rantoul, Ill.
He became communications chief at Tuskegee Army Air Base in Alabama, where he was in charge of radios in the 890th Single Engine Flying Training Squadron.
He married Rachel Beasley in 1942. She died in 1995.
In addition to his son, Walters is survived by several nephews and nieces.
Thank you Sparkysgrl for sponsoring this memorial.
∼WALTERS, WILLIAM A
ORIGINAL TUSKEGEE AIRMAN
Denver. Father of Mark (Renee) Walters; devoted friend of Harry Waters, Sr.; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Visitation Friday, 4-9pm. Alpha Omega Service, 6:00pm both Kirk Chapel. Services Saturday, 11:00am, Zion Baptist Church, 933 E. 24th Ave. to Fairmount Cemetery. Mr. Walters will lie in state from 10-11:00am at the church. Published in Denver Post from December 30, 2009 to January 1, 2010
