WALBERT G. "TURK" age 87 was called home on January 27. He was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana on November 30, 1924. After a grammar school Italian class he began a lifelong passion for studying foreign languages. In 1942 he began his studies at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge and was a member of the R.O.T.C. During WWII he enlisted in The US Navy and after basic training became a 1st Lieutenant. He trained for a time to become a Naval Aviator and then decided to become a Naval Intelligence Officer. He was sent to the Japanese Language School in Stillwater, OK and became fluent in the language in the matter of a few months. After WWII he became a Naval Reserve and moved to Korea to work as a civil servant. While there, he learned to speak several East Asian languages and dialects. He returned to the States in the late '40s and resumed his education. He graduated from LSU in 1951 with a degree in Electrical Engineering. In 1952 he began a 45 year career with Sandia National Laboratories, retiring in 1997. During the 1960's he became heavily involved in Democratic Party politics. In 1966 he won his party's primary for his district's State Senate seat, but was defeated in the general election. The defeat stopped his political aspirations, but not his commitment towards Democratic Party causes. After his retirement he reveled in being one of UNM's oldest language students. While at UNM he studied; Russian, Chinese and Arabic. He traveled separately to both Russia and East Asia. A series of strokes beginning in 2006 ended his dream of returning to East Asia to teach the English language. He said he could carry on a pleasant conversation in these languages as well as French, Spanish and Italian. Over the years he had been a member of Queen of Heaven, St. Bernadette's and St. Thomas Aquinas Newman Center Catholic communities. He is survived by son, W. Gregory Jr. and wife, Kim; grandchildren, Darlene, Kyle, Gregory and Karroll Ann of Oklahoma City. Daughter, Marie Levy Ryan and husband, Tom; grandchildren, Shannon, Cary, Patrick and Keenan of Albuquerque. Son, Matthew and wife, Meg; grandchildren, Anthony, Dominick and Joseph of Albuquerque. Five great-grandchildren. Brother in law, Edward LaBruyere; a nephew and three nieces and their families from Louisiana. He is preceded in death by his youngest daughter, Natasha Katherine and former wife, Karroll Jones Levy within a week span in 1998. A rosary will be held Saturday, February 4 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Newman Center, 1815 Las Lomas Rd. NE 87106. A memorial mass will follow immediately at 11 a.m.. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to the Animal Humane Society, 615 Virginia Street SE, Albuquerque, NM 87108. Please visit our online guest book for "Turk" at www.RememberTheirStory.com. FRENCH 1111 University Blvd NE 505-843-6333
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