Carl David Walter

Carl D. Walter, 95 of Rogers, Ark., died on Monday, July 31, 2017 at Circle of Life Hospice, Bentonville, Ark. He was born on Jan. 17, 1922 in Newton, Kan., to Arnold Benjamin and Dorothy Glennis (Steele) Ratzlaff. After high school, Carl worked for an oil company and in 1945 enlisted in the Army and was shipped to Nagasaki soon after the bomb dropped. He served on 361st Engineering Battalion, a unit that constructed many of the airfields in Japan. Carl returned to the US in October 1946. He started his internship with an uncle doing shoe repair and in 1947 started his own shop in Hillsboro, Kan. He married Dorothy Lee Wilson in Aug. 1949. He repaired shoes, tents, saddles and anything leather. He was in business 36 years. Then moved to Rogers, Ark., in 1983 and started Walter Shoe Repair. He never retired until 2015 at 93 years old. He loved his work and loved people. He was Sunday School Superintendent of Zion Lutheran Church in Hillsboro and started Boy Scout program through American Legion and helped to build the American Legion building in Hillsboro. He started the baseball team. Carl enjoyed boating, water skiing, fishing and hunting. He was preceded in death by his parents; one grandson, Jason Sanders; one sister Ester Olivit and one brother Harry Walter. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Dorothy; their two children, a daughter Sandy Sanders, a son Timothy (Sherry) Walter; grandchildren Heather (Chuck) Chandler, Lindsey (Christopher) Strok; great-grandchildren Rhys, Reyn, Chandler, Ashlee, Joshua, Jon, Abby, Jaiden and Jordan Walter; two sisters Elsie Herrington, Dorine Hand; one brother Clarence Walter. A Memorial Service will be held on Friday Aug. 11, 2017 at 2 p.m. at the First United Methodist church, 307 W. Elm St., Rogers, Ark., 72756. Rev. Michael L. Mattox will officiate. In lieu of flowers, donations for memory stone at Circle of Life Hospice, Legacy Village, 1201 NE Legacy Pkwy, Bentonville, Ark., 72712 Arrangements are by Bella Vista Funeral Home & Crematory, 2258 Forest Hills Blvd., Bella Vista, Ark. On-line condolences may be made at www.funeralmation.com.