Walter (“Wally”)
Walley of Ipswich passed away at his home on Sunday, February 22,
2009 at the age of 91. He led a rich and full life and will be
greatly missed by those he leaves behind. He was the beloved
husband of Verda Jane (Ulam) Walley, his darling, beautiful wife of
69 years. He was born in Niagara Falls, NY, to immigrant parents.
The oldest of six children, he was unable to attend college when his
father passed away and he was left to provide for the family. He
made up for his lack of schooled learning with his passion for books
and never stopped questing for knowledge. He was a wise and proud
man.
Wally served in the
Air Force during World War II as a fighter pilot. Flying his P-40
Warhawk gave him a love of flying which remained with him throughout
his life. He met his beautiful, red-headed, Verda, in Buffalo, NY,
and they were married in 1940. Wally had many interesting
occupations over his lifetime, from hair dresser, to chicken farmer,
and many more before settling into a job with the U.S. Department of
Defense. He was on the leading edge of Equal Employment and the
Affirmative Action Plan, and traveled the Deep South in the 1960s
trying to create equal rights to jobs for African Americans. He was
a skilled negotiator and conferred with the likes of Lyndon B.
Johnson and Martin Luther King, Jr. Upon Wally’s retirement, he and
Verda enjoyed traveling and caring for their grandchildren. In his
spare time, he enjoyed photography, music and reading.
In addition to his
wife he is survived by two daughters, Ruth Dennis Edmonds and her
husband, Roger and Nancy Louise Manning and her husband, Raymond,
all of Ipswich; six grandsons, David and Dennis Walley of
Connecticut, Reginald Edmonds of Ipswich, Grant Edmonds of Illinois,
and Mike and Sam Manning of Ipswich, a daughter-in-law Marilyn
Taylor and her husband, Kip of N. Stonington, CT, and one brother,
Esmit Walley of Pennsylvania. He is also survived by four
great grandsons and one great grand-daughter, the wee lass, and many
nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by
a son, Michael J. Walley, a brother and three sisters. Wally’s
passing will leave a great void in their lives, and he will be sadly
missed.
His funeral service
will be held Saturday February 28 at 11 am in the United Methodist
Church of Ipswich, Meetinghouse Green, Ipswich. Family and friends
respectfully welcomed. Visiting hours are Friday 4 to 7 pm in the
Whittier-Porter Funeral Home, 6 High Street, Ipswich. In lieu of
flowers, donations in his name may be made to the charity of one’s
own choice.
