Uncle Walter's Obituary

This was published in the Chattanooga Times Free Press paper. Like everyone else in his family he was such a wonderful, hardworking, loving person. I hope I can live up to his expectations of always putting family and friends first and honest work a close second.

Walter Levie Sr.

LaFAYETTE — Walter Hill Levie Sr., 89, a prominent dentist in LaFayette, passed away on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2008, at his beloved farm surrounded by his family.

As a child growing up in Korea, he was introduced to Jesus Christ and shown the importance of selfless giving by his missionary parents, Dr. and Mrs. James K. Levie. After returning to the United States in 1936, he attended the University of Georgia before matriculating to the Atlanta Southern School of Dentistry, an affiliate of Emory University, from which he graduated in 1944. After being honorably discharged from the U.S. Army in 1946, he came to LaFayette to join his father in his dental practice. In 1952, he married Doris Nash of Atlanta.

He was awarded a lifetime membership in the American Dental Association and the Georgia Dental Association for his service to the dental profession for 60 years. He was also awarded Citizen of the Year in 1991 by the LaFayette Chamber of Commerce. Dr. Levie was involved in numerous civic and church activities and was a member and former deacon of the First Baptist Church of LaFayette.

His passion for farming led to innovative ideas that contributed to the agricultural community. In Dr. Levie’s later years, he continued to enjoy farming, gardening, and spending time with his loving family.

A devoted husband, father and grandfather, he was preceded in death by his parents, his loving wife of 54 years, Doris Nash Levie; and his brothers, James K. Levie Jr. and Elmer A. Levie.

He is survived by his son, Dr. Walter Hill “Chip” Levie Jr. and wife, Kathy; daughters, Nancy Levie Hearn and husband, Henry, and Annette Levie Weldon; his grandsons, Walter Hill “Trey” Levie III, Tyler Kellum Levie, William Paul Hill Weldon and Philip Henry Hearn; and his granddaughters, Jillian Lee Hearn, Susanna Parker Hearn and Virginia “Jennie” Nash Weldon. He is also survived by his sister, Ruth L. Baumbach, of Portland, Ore.; and brother, James F. Levie, of San Francisco, Calif.; and several nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends and relatives Sunday, Oct. 5, 2008, from 4-7 p.m. at Wallis-Wilbanks Funeral Home.

A memorial service, officiated by Dr. Todd Gaddis and Pastor George Parker, will be at First Baptist Church of LaFayette, at 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 6.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Countryside Hospice, 104 East Patton St., LaFayette, GA 30728, or Christian Friends of Korea, P.O. Box 936, Black Mountain, NC 28711.

Arrangements are by Wallis-Wilbanks Funeral Home.