Obituary of Jerald Franklin Walters

On January 30, 1934 Hunter George and Diva (neé Magnani) Walters of Ashland, Kentucky welcomed their first and only child, Jerald Franklin Walters (Jerry) into their lives. Their little prince was doted on by his father, himself a showman and barber at Henry Clay barber shop and stay-at-home mom and grew up with the footlights in his eyes. His talents manifested themselves in a love of music and theater: he mastered violin and piano, tap and ballroom dance, and he loved to sing. He started in many home produced movies written and directed by his artistic dad and entertained his friends and the public at the Ashland Theater in local theatrical productions. After graduating from Ashland High School Jerry Joined the National Guard of Kentucky from 1952-1955 then bounded over the river to Marshall University to begin his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering. He then put his degree on hold and joined the United States Army from 1957 to 1959 and the Army Reserves from 1961-1965. Captain Jerald Franklin Walters earned his BS from Marshall in 1961. The year 1968 brought a new adventure for Jerry when he met the woman who instantly became the love of his life, Donna Harvey (neé Crawford) and her three children: Daniel Harvey (Danny), Victoria Harvey (Vicky) and Diane Harvey. Like everything he did he embraced being a father and the new family blended seamlessly, welcoming a new son, Little Jerry (Jerald Hunter Walters) in 1969. A semi-vagabond life working in aerospace followed with sojourns in Santa Clara, California and Cattlettsburg, Kentucky before Jerry settled into his castle on the hill in Canyon Country, California in 1972. Another son, Aaron Franklin Walters, was born there in 1973. There this king ruled the family with humor and laughter, love and support, welcoming five grandchildren (Rachelle, Robby, Catrina, Sam, and Caitlyn) and 7 great-grandchildren as the years passed. Retirement brought him the peace of being able to sit on the porch overlooking the city with his favorite companion, Jethro, the mischievous hound dog. He devoted many hours coaching local sports teams and encouraging excellence. On Sunday Jerry passed peacefully at his castle. No words can describe the loss of our king, our cheerleader, our muse, our shining example of father and husband and friend. And although his absence will leave a huge hole in the lives of all who loved him, we hope it was the footlights that drew him into his next adventure and that somewhere he is tap dancing and playing his violin.