WALTER, Marvin Dale - b. December 31, 1908 - d. June 20, 1948

[genealogynut]

A TRIBUTE TO DALE WALTER

Marvin "Dale" Walter was born December 31, 1908 in Severy, Greenwood County, Kansas to Peter F. and Martha (Harper) Walter.  He grew up in the Severy area, having kinfolk in Greenwood, Elk and Chautauqua counties of Kansas.

He developed a love for airplanes and flying at an early age, he began building them, and later gave flying instructions, doing air shows, etc. and for a time was employed at Stearman Aircraft in Wichita, KS.  He was employed in various occupations as welder, pilot, tool and dye works.

Due to a lightening strike, while flying in the Flint Hills, west of Severy, Dale was killed in a plane crash on June 20, 1948 near Beaumont, Kansas. Age at death was 39 years, 6 mo., 17 days.

He had never married.

Survivors included siblings,  Lee Walter, Lulu (Walter) Morgan, and Minnie (Walter) Shannon

Burial was in the Walter plot at Grace Lawn Cemetery, Howard, Kansas.

[Marcia Moore]

     Dale "Red" Walter developed a love for airplanes and flying at an early age.  In 1929, Dale, a young Severy lad not quite 21 years of age, finished building the airplane he had been working on since the previous Christmas.  During those months, he worked patiently and carefully, making each part with precision.  Walter built part of the airplane in the barn at his mother's home and part of it in the carpenter shop at the Hayes Lumber Co.  It was not unusual for some local person to drop in on him, and after watching him work went away thinking Dale had tackled an endless job.  In the meantime, though, Dale worked away, paying no attention to anyone, and one by one the tedious jobs were completed and the plane was assembled.  The young builder's tools consisted of a blowtorch, a hammer, saw, drawing-knife and pocket knife.  Every part of the plane was made by him with the exception of the engine and the propeller.  He made the radiator, gas tanks, etc.
     Walter's dreams were realized when the plane he built took to the air for the first time on Sept. 25, 1929, piloted by James Knight, an experienced flyer, after it had been inspected and pronounced good by an expert from one of the Wichita factories.  It performed to the entire satisfaction of the builder and the pilot, but it was found that the radiator was a little too small and that the plane responded a little too quickly to the controls.  These could be improved in a very short time, and it was only a few days before the plane was flying hour after hour. 
     The plane was built from a blueprint of a Heath plane.  It had a wingspread of 25 ft. and was powered by a 40 hp. Ace motor.  Dale flew his plane over Severy and all around the area, and it had all the appearance and roar of a million dollar plane. 
     On Oct. 13, 1929, Dale was flying his plane near Fiat when the engine commenced to "cut out," so he attempted to bring the plane up over the fence but got too close, and the landing gears caught the fence, turning the plane over several times.  It was badly damaged and much time was required to repair it.  In the crash, two of Dale's teeth were partially broken off and he received a small gash cut in his forehead.  Not disheartened by his misfortune, he repaired the ship with a smile on his face.
     Dale organized a flying club in May 1930, for the purpose of giving flying lessons.  Anyone interested was invited to investigate the proposition and if they joined at that time they could save one-half on their flying instruction course.  Lessons were limited to only ten individuals.       
     On Sept. 24, 1933, Dale, along with a student, Roy Campbell of Howard, met with an airplane accident when they were compelled to make a forced landing.  Dale escaped without a scratch, while Campbell received a bad cut on his upper lip.  The boys walked to town and Dr. McDonald dressed Campbell's wound.
     In the 1930's Dale, along with Roy Campbell, had an airport located approximately three miles northwest of Howard. 
     Dale was an excellent pilot.  He not only built a Heath Parasol plane with a Henderson motorcycle engine, he also designed, built and flew a plane called the Rockbouncer which was equipped with a Ford automobile engine.  Another airplane designed and built by Dale was called the Jeep.  It crashed the first time it was flown, as it had a landing gear location problem.  Dale also owned an airplane with his nephew, Harold Walter – an Aeronca C-3.  Harold idolized his uncle, and he made a career of aviation then wrote a book after his retirement.  Harold's book, entitled, "Airplane Beans," was published in 2005 and is available for sale.  In this book he tells of his experiences, and also includes information about Jim Knight, who was another one of Severy's early aviators.
     Dale not only gave flying instruction, he also did air shows for a time and later was employed at Boeing Airplane Co.  He was employed in various occupations there as welder, pilot, tool and dye works.  He was interested in airplanes throughout his life. 
     On Sunday morning, June 20, 1948, Walter was killed when his airplane crashed five miles northwest of Beaumont while he was flying to Severy.  His body was found two days later, still strapped in the seat of his airplane.  He had been missing since Sunday morning at 8:30.  Major A.W. Wermuth, C.A.P. group commander, who conducted the search for Walter, reported that the plane apparently came out of the low clouds in a spin and nosed into the ground.  It bounced about fifty feet onto its back with wheels in the air.  The engine was found a few feet from the main fuselage wreckage.  Authorities believed that had he had more than a few seconds time after coming out of the clouds, he would have made a landing.
     Marvin Dale Walter was born December 3, 1908 one mile southeast of Severy to Peter F. and Martha (Harper) Walter and was a 1926 graduate of Severy Rural High School.  Walter was 39 yrs., 6 months and 17 days old at the time of his death.  He spent all of his life in and around Severy with the exception of his last nine years while he was employed at Boeing.  Never married, he was preceded in death by his father in 1924 and his mother in 1943; also three half-brothers, Alfred, Howard and Clyde Walter.  He was survived by his siblings, Lee Walter, Lulu (Walter) Morgan, and Minnie (Walter) Shannon.  He also had relatives in Greenwood, Elk and Chautauqua counties.  Burial was at Grace Lawn Cemetery at Howard, KS.

[Marcia Moore]

Anyone wishing to purchase the book, "Airplane Beans," from Harold Walter, can do so by contacting Harold at 14421 Killarney Ct.; Wichita, KS 67230 or emailing him at h_walter@earthlink.net