Sam Tompkins Walter, Jr.
Sam Tompkins Walter, Jr.
January 15, 1938 -- December 31, 2023
Sam Tompkins Walter, Jr. was born in Columbia, SC on January 15, 1938. He is the son of the late Sam Tompkins Walter and Alma Bunch Walter. Throughout his life, he was known as Tom or Tommy to friends and family.
Tom’s family moved from Columbia to Bamberg, SC in 1946, where he lived until heading off to college. After attending the University of South Carolina for a year, where he was a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity, Tom received an appointment to the United States Naval Academy. While at Annapolis, Tom was assigned to the 24th Company and played 150-pound football for a couple of seasons. Upon graduating in 1961 with a degree in electrical engineering, he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps and served with the 2nd Battalion, 11th Marines at Camp Pendleton as an artillery officer.
After leaving active duty in the Marine Corps, Tom moved his young family to Raleigh, NC where he began his investment advisor career with Merrill Lynch. For more than 40 years, Tom worked with such leading companies as E.F. Hutton, Prudential-Bache and Interstate / Johnson Lane in sales and sales management, earning numerous awards.
But Tom’s passion was his family and community. He was a volunteer football coach and board member for the Raleigh Youth Football Federation for more than five years, where all three of his children participated. Tom also served as a board member for the Cued Speech Center of Raleigh for more than a decade. For his efforts as a board member and chairman, Tom received recognition from U.S. President George H. W. Bush and South Carolina Gov. Carroll Campbell. In 1991, North Carolina Gov. James G. Martin awarded Tom with The Order of the Long Leaf Pine, one of the state’s highest honors, for his service to the community.
Tom is survived by the love of his life, Lois Frias Walter, his wife of 62 years, as well as his three children: Greg Walter and wife Donna of Charlotte, NC; Scott Walter and wife Laurel of Wake Forest, NC; and Lorae Walter Barnett and her husband Joey of Raleigh, NC. Tom is also survived by eight grandchildren. He also leaves behind a brother, Steve Walter and wife Diana of Clemson, SC; and a sister, Julia Pinckney Walter of Charleston, SC .
Anyone desiring to make a memorial tribute can do so in the form of a charitable donation to the Navy – Marine Corps Relief Society which serves the needs of both active duty and retired Sailors and Marines. https://www.nmcrs.org
Tom’s Celebration of Life service will be on Saturday, January 20th at Crossroads Fellowship on 13029 Keith Store Road in Wake Forest, NC. Visitation will be at 10 :00 AM with the service beginning at 11:00 AM.