Obituary of Derek Andrew Walter
WALTER, Derek Andrew
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Derek Andrew Walter, 76, who died peacefully, surrounded by close family on Sunday, April 29th, 2018. His family would like to thank the nurses of the Kingston General Hospital for their diligent and compassionate care during his brief illness.
His first wife, Susan (nee Fenn) died in 1986. He is lovingly remembered by his second wife, Monika; his daughter Erin McInnis, (Sheldon)-Guelph, granddaughter, Brielle and grandson Owyn; daughter Karina Zimmerman; (Brad)-Maple Ridge BC, granddaughter, Susie; extended family daughters; Cathy Dovan (Sebastien)- Ottawa, granddaughters Tabatha and Cassidy; Barbara Kern (Fred)- Chicago, grandson Ethan and granddaughter Abbie: Helen Thomas (Ben)-Vancouver, grandchildren Malachy, Akasha, Micah, Sapphire, and Christopher Caleb.
His first place of employment was with AECL in Deep River after which he accepted a position at the Biomedical Electronic Unit at Queen's University, in Kingston. Soon he became the Supervisor of the Biomedical Engineering Unit at the Ottawa Civic Hospital, which he held for the next twelve years.
In 1980 his career took a very different path as he joined, his late wife, Susie, in running the Arnprior Guide, a weekly newspaper serving Arnprior and the area. This paper joined the Runge Newspaper organization in 1985 and Derek then became the publisher of papers in Arnprior, Renfrew, Carleton Place, Almonte and the West Carleton Review. In 2005 Runge Newspapers sold to Metroland where he then became the General Manager.
After his retirement in 2008, Derek enjoyed working with the magazine, "Shoulder to Shoulder", spending time with family and friends on his pontoon boat, touring visitors around Kingston, connecting with the local and global community via the HAM radio network, and being appointed by the Minister of Health and Long Term Care to serve as a public member on the Council of the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario.
Derek was a past member of the Arnprior Hospital Board, the Royal Ottawa Hospital Foundation Board, the Social Services Advisory Board, City of Ottawa, and the KGH Board of Governors. He was also a trustee with the Carleton Board of Education for thirteen years (three as chair). His special love was being an active Amateur Radio Operator since 1974 (VE3HRW) and a member of the executive of the Frontenac Emergency Communications Group in Kingston.
A celebration of Derek's life will be held on Saturday, May 5th, 2018 from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm at the JAMES REID FUNERAL HOME, RECEPTION AND CELEBRATION CENTRE, 1900 John Counter Blvd, in Kingston to which all friends, neighbours and colleagues are invited. Memorial donations may be made to the University Hospitals Kingston Foundation, Arnprior Regional Health Foundation or Renfrew Victoria Hospital Foundation.
