Limestone Co. TX - Obit for Ray Walter
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From: Patricia Oates <pattiann@eramp.net>

Funeral Services Held Last Friday For Ray A. Walter, Limestone County
Historian

        Funeral services for Ray A. Walter, age 74, of Waco were held on
Friday, December 14, at 10 a.m. in the Groesbeck Funeral Home Chapel. 
Mr. Walter died on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 in Waco.

        Mr. Walter was born on July 24, 1927, in Groesbeck to Frank and
Tina (Priddy) Walter. Mr. Walter graduated from Groesbeck High School in
1944, and he attended Westminster College in Tehuacana.  He later
received his bachelors and masters degrees from Baylor University.

        Mr. Walter taught school in Groesbeck early in his career. He
later was associated with McLennan County School Superintendent and
McLennan County Education Co-op.  He worked with McLennan County schools
as a counselor.  In his work he was especially associated with the Mart
Independent School District for many years.

        While Mr. Walter was in the education profession and was very
devoted to his work, his first love was history and especially the
history of Limestone County and Groesbeck.

        In 1959, he published "A History of Limestone County", and his
book is still recognized as one of the most accurate sources of Limestone
County history.  He also had an extensive collection of historical
items.  Mr. Walter was called by many as Limestone County's historian.

        Mr. Walter had also done extensive research on the history of the
First United Methodist Church of Groesbeck.  He and his family were
formerly member of this church.

        For a number of years Mr. Walter shared his knowledge of local
history by writing a historical column for the Groesbeck Journal.
        In later years, Mr. Walter was a great supporter and benefactor
of the Maffett Memorial Library of Groesbeck. He encouraged the library
to develop a local history section.

        Mr. Walter was a member of the Board of Directors of the Fort
Parker Memorial Park.

        Mr. Walter is survived by one first cousin, James Priddy of
Lockhart..  But, he is loved and remembered by many co-workers and many
friends.

              Brother Travis Smith, a longtime friend, officiated at the
      funeral services     

        The family requests that memorials be made to Maffett Memorial
Library or Fort Parker Memorial Park.

        Pallbearers were Leonard Mills, Jack Rasco, Bill Sadler, George
Humble, Tom Hawkins, James Watson, and Wayland Wilson.  Honorary
pallbearer was John W. Oates.

        Interment was in Fort Parker Memorial Park.


>From the Groesbeck Journal, Thursday, December 20, 2001.
        Editor's Corner

        Limestone County lost a great source of historical knowledge of
the county with the sudden death of Ray A. Walter of Waco last week.
        Ray Walter, a Groesbeck and Limestone County native, had a wealth
of knowledge of the history of the county not only in his mind but also
in his collection of historical items.

        Ray wrote A History of Limestone County in 1959.  It is regarded
as one of the most accurate sources of Limestone County history
available.  Ray developed his love for historical research while a
student of the late Miss Mary Glaze here in the Groesbeck Schools.

        Ray was a good friend to this Editor and the Groesbeck Journal. 
He was also a great friend of the Maffett Memorial Library and its
librarian Denise Carter.

        Ray was willing to share his knowledge of history with anyone who
was interested.  His good friend Pat Oates, perhaps, expressed it best,
when she stated, "Ray told me so many things about the history of the
area and its people that I would never have known.  He was always willing
to share with me and help with any research project in which I was
involved."

        Ray A. Walter will truly be missed by all who knew him.  His
research and book will be of help and influence to future generations.