FAIRHAVEN — Walter Thomas Jr., age 93 years, of Fairhaven, died Friday, January 11, 2008 at home, after a period of declining health. He was the husband of the late Shirley (Fernandes) Thomas.
Born in New Bedford, Walter was the son of the late Walter Thomas Sr. and the late Elizabeth (Selley) Thomas and lived in this area all of his life. He was a graduate of Fairhaven High School and Massachusetts Maritime Academy and assigned to the. D.S.S. Nantucket.
A Navy veteran of World War II, he served in the Atlantic-Pacific areas on Motor Torpedo Boats and the U.S.S. Niagara which sunk off of the Solomon Islands in 1943. He then was assigned to the U.S.S. Oyster Bay as Executive Officer, achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and was attached to the Navy Reserves retiring in 1951.
Walter served as a deck officer for the Black Diamond Steamship Lines, Cities Service Co., and American Hawaiian Steamship Lines. He then became associated with St. Luke's Hospital as Assistant Administrative Engineer in Maintenance followed by employment with Metropolitan Refining Co. in New York as Field Chemical Engineer.
He is survived by many nieces and nephews including Lester Delano of New York City and France and several grand nieces and grand nephews.
His private funeral arrangements are with the Wilson Chapel, 479 County St., New Bedford. Burial will be in River-side Cemetery in Fairhaven. In lieu of flowers remembrances may be made in his name to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St., Framingham, MA.