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George W. Walters, 80, a resident of Albuquerque since 1943, died Friday, March 19, 2004. Born June 16, 1923 in New Britain, Connecticut, where he obtained his private pilot's license at the age of 16-the youngest private pilot in Connecticut at the time. Later, as a Captain and fighter pilot in the U.S. Marine Corps, George flew the carrier-based Corsair in WWII and was shot down in the battle of Leyte in the South Pacific. After a lengthy recuperation, he headed west to escape the cold New England winters. George spent four years at UNM and affiliated with Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. The building boom of the 40's led him to the home-building industry, first with Ed Mankin and then on his own as George W. Walters Construction Co. Over the course of his years as a builder, he built and developed over 4000 residential and commercial properties in New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming and Texas. From 1957-1961, while a resident of Farmington, NM, George served as a president of the Home Builders Assn. and, with other businessmen, was responsible for the building of the then "new" airport facility. In October 1970, he served as a United States Delegate in the Sixth World International Construction Federation in Montreal, Canada. In Albuquerque, with other associates, George founded Republic Bank in 1972, which merged with American Bank of Commerce in 1981, then United New Mexico Bank and later Norwest. George served as President of the Board of Directors of Republic Bank and Director for the subsequent banks. He leaves behind his beloved wife, Val; son David and wife Janet; grandchildren Mackenzie and Mitchell; daughter Deborah and fianc Paul; grandson John; and daughter Lisa. Other survivors include a brother Henry and wife Betty, special nephew Glen and wife Jennifer of Albuquerque; a sister, Edith, sister-in-law Steffie of New Britain, CT; and beloved nieces and nephews in Connecticut, Colorado, California and Washington. In addition, many friends mourn his passing. Services will be held Tuesday, March 23, 2004, at 12:00 noon, at French Mortuary, Wyoming Blvd. Chapel. Interment will follow at 2:30 p.m., at Santa Fe National Cemetery. Friends may visit French Mortuary, Wyoming Blvd. Chapel, Monday, March 22, 2004, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that random acts of kindness be done for those with whom you come in contact or memorial contributions be made to the NM Chapter of the American Parkinson's Disease, c/o Bob Dunagan, 10817 Griffith Park Dr. NE, 87123 or to Redeemer Lutheran Church, 210 Alvarado Dr. SE, 87108. French Mortuary 7121 Wyoming Blvd. NE 823-9400
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