A Mass of Christian Burial for Walter Wails, age 78, will be at 9:00 AM Thursday, March 8, 2012, at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, with Father Joseph Irwin officiating. Burial will be in Okmulgee, with arrangements by Anderson-Burris Funeral Home. Visitation with family will be Wednesday evening 6:00 to 7:00 PM at the funeral home.
Walter was born to Walter and Edna (Morton) Wails on February 20, 1934, in Okmulgee, and died Sunday, March 4, 2012, at the Veterans Home in Clinton.
Walter grew up in Okmulgee. He graduated from Okmulgee High School in 1952. On June 28, 1952, he married Christine Little in Okmulgee. Walter served in the U.S. Navy and is a Veteran of the Korean War. He then attended and graduated from Northwestern Oklahoma State University. He began his thirty-year career working in various agencies of the U.S. Government, including Department of Labor, Oklahoma Corporation Commission, Bureau of Narcotics, Board of Pharmacy, Board of Governors of Registered Dentists, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. During this time he was also a self-employed legal investigator. Walter enjoyed woodworking and carpentry. He was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church and Knights of Columbus.
Walter is survived by four daughters, Angela Kalb and husband Tim of Hide-A-Way Hills, Ohio, Valerie Hopper and husband Jim of Enid, Catherine Barber and fiancée Will Lones of Lubbock, Texas, and Sharon Semrad and husband Lee of Enid; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by parents, daughter Constance Elaine, and wife Christine.
Memorials may be made to A.L.S. Foundation or OMRF – Alzheimer Division.
