Gordon B. Walters

Tuesday, May 6, 2008
WALTERS

Gordon B. Walters, 67, of Greencastle, died on Sunday, May 4, 2008 after an extended illness.

He was born on Sept. 29, 1940 in Winchester, Ky. to Gordon and Stella Jones Walters. Mr. Walters was a graduate of Norwood High School in Cincinnati; received his BA degree in French from the University of Cincinnati with High Honors, achieving Phi Beta Kappa honors in 1962, and received his Masters and Doctoral degrees in French literature from Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y.

Mr. Walters was a professor emeritus of romance languages at DePauw University in Greencastle, where he was a member of the faculty from 1968 until 2001 and served as chairman of the department from 1982 until 1991.

An interest in film and literature led him to do film and book reviews as a freelance writer for the Banner-Graphic and The Tribune Star newspapers. Gordon had studied advertising design before pursuing his degrees in French, and had been inspired by his high school art teacher to again take up painting in retirement. His art, done primarily in watercolors and pastels, has been shown in local and regional art shows.

Gordon was an active member of St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, serving as a lector and eucharistic minister, and had served on the Board of Directors of Kiwanis, Horizons, and the Putnam County Museum.

Surviving are his wife, Sharon Klepper Walters; two daughters, Tanya Eltzroth and husband, Loren and Rachel Burgan and husband, Blake; six grandchildren, Aryn and Nicholas Eltzroth, Sarah, Emma, Benjamin and Molly Burgan; a cousin, Marlene Sauer; an uncle, Gene Jones; a sister-in-law, Saundra Klepper; a brother-in-law, Steve Klepper and wife, Peggy; several nieces and nephews.

Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Wednesday May 7, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, with Father Steve Jarrell officiating. Interment will follow at Forest Hill Cemetery.

The family will receive friends today, Tuesday, May 6, from 4 to 7:15 p.m. at the Bittles & Hurt Funeral Home, where a prayer service will be held at 7:15 p.m.

Memorials may be made to any of the three endowments administered by the Putnam County Community Foundation: Putnam County Memorial Cancer Research Endowment, St. Paul the Apostle Ladies Guild Scholarship Endowment or Putnam County Historical and Cultural Museum Endowment, 2 South Jackson Street, Greencastle, IN 46135.

Condolences may be emailed to the family c/o INBTH@keystonegroup.com