Morris Jr., Walter F., 99, of Mount Dora, FL, passed away peacefully at Edgewater Health & Rehabilitation on January 3, 2023. He was born in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston, MA on November 22, 1923 to Walter F. Morris Sr. and Eulalie Masterson Morris. When he was a child, the family moved to Wellesley Hills, MA. For many years the family also had a home in Mattapoisett, MA. Walter entered Mount St. Charles Academy in Woonsocket, RI and graduated in the class of 1941. He attended Boston College where he was active in Stylus, the on-campus student magazine. He completed two years before joining the US Army Air Corps in early 1943. After completing training, he served as a lead navigator on 30 bombing missions over Germany and was awarded the Air Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters and the Distinguished Flying Cross. He was discharged in late 1945 as a First Lieutenant and matriculated into Fordham University. He stood out as a member of student council, was a leading figure of the St. John’s Debating Society, and spoke at graduation as class salutatorian in 1947.
Following graduation, he joined the executive training squad of Macy’s in the Bronx, NY and worked for them and their affiliates. In 1953 he returned to Massachusetts to join the Walter F. Morris Co., a firm founded by his father in 1922. He headed up the firm for the next 26 years and during that time, he and his brother Bob Morris bought the company from their father. In 1986, they sold the company to Valley Resources and two years later retired to Florida. During his business career, he also attended the New York University School of Retailing and the Harvard Business School OPM program, the latter of which he graduated with a diploma.
Walter also served as director of the Lincoln Savings Bank, President of the Canton Association of Industries, Director of the New England Gas Association, and Secretary Treasurer of the Gild of Ancient Supplers. A longtime resident of Weston, he was a member of the Weston Golf Club. Other memberships included the Harbour Ridge Club of Stuart, FL and the Mission Inn Club of Howey-in-the-Hills, FL. His other interests included education and photography.
He was married to Lily Manix Morris for 50 years before she passed in 2000. He was father of four children: Walter F. Morris III of South Natick, MA, Jan Mitchell of Chatham, MA, Susan Marden of Boston, MA, and Christopher Morris of La Jolla, CA. He was the grandfather of four grandchildren: Matthew, Lisa and Michael Morris as well as Miles Marden. In 2003, he married the late Bettie Coady Morris and also leaves his stepdaughter, Patricia Coady. He was brother to Eulalie Regan of Falmouth, MA.
Relatives and friends are kindly invited to the funeral Mass held at St. Julia’s Catholic Church (374 Boston Post Rd, Weston, MA, 02493) at 11am on Thursday, January 12th. Interment will follow at Linwood Cemetery in Weston immediately following the Mass. In lieu of flowers donations in his memory may be made to Mount St. Charles Academy, 800 Logee St. Woonsocket, RI 02895.