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Walter C. Birge, Jr. passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his family on September 14, 2005 after a long illness. He was born to Walter C. and Ruth Byrne Birge on July 6, 1918 in Chicago, IL. He was preceded in death by his wife of 45 years, Elizabeth Berry Morrison, who passed away in 1988; his parents; his brother, Jim; and sister, Letty Wren. He is survived by his sister, Margaret Arneberg, of Chicago, IL; children, Beth Gattas Waskow and husband, John, Sue Howard and husband, Dwight; Martha Birge, Becky Canfield and husband, Michael, Peggy Brodsky and husband, Bill, John Birge of Albuquerque, and Nora Goodloe and husband, Rick, of Atlanta, GA; 13 grandchildren, Jeff and Brian Gattas of California, Bethie Gattas, Emily and Ted Howard, Kathryn, Erin, Claire and Colleen Canfield, and Rivkela and Ariela Brodsky of Albuquerque, Burke Goodloe and wife, Dawn of Atlanta and Jenna Goodloe Wade and husband, Jack of Memphis, TN; three great-grandchildren, Ryan and Keely Goodloe of Atlanta and Burke Wade of Memphis, TN; his sister-in-law, Julia "Cissie" O'Malley; many nieces and nephews; and his special friend, Margaret Mangham. Walter graduated from Mt. Carmel High School in Chicago in 1936. He joined the Army Air Corps, served in World War II as a bombardier and was a bombardier instructor at Kirtland AFB. In 1959, Walter graduated magna cum laude from the University of Southern California with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration. Walter served as a career officer in the Air Force and retired in Albuquerque in 1969 after receiving his Master's degree in Public Administration from the University of Oklahoma. After moving to Albuquerque, Walter worked for the University of New Mexico for 31 years. He initiated the UNM Parking Service and directed it for ten years. After that he enjoyed working at the UNM South and North Golf Courses until his retirement in 2003. Wally was an avid golfer, talker and a wonderful father. A Memorial Service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, September 19, 2005 at Queen of Heaven, 5311 Phoenix Avenue NE, Albuquerque. In lieu of flowers, please donate to St. Jude's Children Research Hospital, Memorial Office, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or telephone 1-800-873-6983. Sunrise Funeral Options 7601 Wyoming Blvd NE Albuquerque, NM 87109 (505) 821-0010
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