Millard Aloysius Walter Jr.'s Obituary
Millard Aloysius Walter, Jr passed away on Friday, August 8, 2025 at Sagepoint Gardens in La Plata, MD. For ninety-four years, he was known for his sensibility, strength and compassion. He leaves a space in our hearts and lives that cannot be filled.
Millard was born on March 11,1931 in Clinton, MD to Millard Walter Sr and Alva Ray Carroll. He grew up working on the family property in Piscataway with his parents and three sisters, Katherine, Ruby and Betty. As a hardworking boy, he was taken from school to be “hired out” to neighboring farms.
In 1947 at Surrattsville School, Millard met Mary Esther Pilkerton. The spark ignited and together they shared a lifetime of friends and memories. They were devoted to one another while Millard served in the Coast Guard and Mary finished school. They married in March 1952, and were an example of a committed loving partnership, until her death in 2017. They opened their home and hearts to help a lot of folks and would travel to wherever the need was. Truly a remarkable couple.
Millard left home at seventeen to join the Coast Guard. His assignments took him to Alaska on an ice breaker retrofitted with equipment in defense of Korean sub encounters and then to a patrol boat guarding New York Harbors. He was a proud sailor and earned a Good Conduct Medal.
After his tour of duty, the couple lived in DC, then Baltimore, eventually settling in Forest Heights, MD with their two children, Diane and Millard, III. After their children graduated high school, they moved to White Plains, MD.
Millard worked several jobs including managing a Regal Shoe Store in DC before joining the federal workforce with Blue Plains (DC Water). He was respected as a leader and retired as General Foreman for the Electric Shops in 1989.
During retirement they became snowbirds between MD and Tamarac, Florida. In 2006, they were thrilled to build and move full-time to a new home in Port St Lucie, Florida. They loved to travel and visited every state in the country, Alaska being their favorite.
Millard was a well-loved man with a strong moral code. He was pragmatic and had a conservationist approach to living. He was a caregiver at heart and willingly stepped in to help family and friends.
Millard is predeceased by his parents, sisters, wife and daughter. He is survived by his son, Millard III (Ann) of La Plata; grandchildren, Tonya Mortensen, Fredericksburg VA, Stephanie LaFleur, Norman, OK, Catherine Schultz, Baltimore, Sean Schultz (Hannah Auerbach), Ashland, VA; great-grandchildren, Christopher, Bailey and Noah Mortensen, and Charlie and Wyatt Sledziona; great-great grandchild Malachai Mortensen, with more on the way.
Deep appreciation goes to the caregiving staff of Sagepoint Gardens Assisted Living who gave special care and kindness to Millard for 29 months.
Visitation
Thursday
August 14, 2025
11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Arehart-Echols Funeral Home, P.A.
211 St. Mary's Ave.
LA PLATA, Maryland 20646
Funeral Service
Thursday
August 14, 2025
12:00 PM
Arehart-Echols Funeral Home, P.A.
211 St. Mary's Ave.
LA PLATA, Maryland 20646
Interment following funeral service
Thursday
August 14, 2025
Trinity Memorial Gardens
3221 Mattawoman Beantown Rd.
Waldorf, MD 20601
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