Walter Lake,

Walter Chester Lake, Jr. (Junior), the oldest son of Walter C., Sr. and Myrtle Lake, was born January 25, 1927 in Hope, Kansas. He attended Grade School in Abilene and went to High School in Chapman, Kansas. During his senior year, he quit school and joined the U.S. Navy in late 1944. He spent 19 months in the Navy.

In 1946, he returned to Lehigh, Kansas and met and married Liela Lois Winter on September 7, 1947. They moved to Hillsboro, Kansas, where they both worked at the Tip Top Creamery. Their marriage was blessed with the birth of two daughters, Rita in 1948 & Julie in 1950.

In January, 1951 he went to work for Beech Aircraft in Herrington, Kansas. He left Beech in the summer of 1952 to take over the Skelly gas station in Peabody, Kansas. In 1954 he went back to work at Beech Aircraft in Wichita, Kansas. In October, 1970 they moved to Wichita. After 35 years of service with Beech Aircraft he retired February, 1989. In June, 1991 Junior & Lois moved to McPherson, Kansas.

During his younger years, Junior and his family liked to go camping, fishing and water skiing. He also liked playing with his wood working skills. He got really good at making hall trees, hanging book shelves and quilt racks. His also liked making yard art. He was a 50 plus year member of the American Legion Post #24 and a lifetime member of VFW Post # 2715 of McPherson.

He enjoyed playing the card game "Hand and Foot" every afternoon with Lois. He was darn good at it, too; quiet and sneaky.

He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, Bobbi, Marvin & Lloyd, and a sister Elizabeth.

Survivors include his wife, Lois of over 61 years; his children Rita Goben & husband, Bob, of Derby, Kansas and Julie Lake of Flower Mound, Texas; a brother, Max Lake of Abilene, Kansas; a sister, Elaine Smith & husband, Mike, of Arkansas City, Kansas; grandson Aaron Lake & wife, Kim, two great-grandsons, Austin & Peyton Lake all of Derby, Kansas; many nieces, nephews and cousins, and a large and loving extended family and many friends.

The funeral service will be at 10:00 AM, Monday, May 18, 2009, at Stockham Family Funeral Home, McPherson. Burial, with military honors, will be in McPherson Cemetery. Visitation will be from 1:00 to 4:00 PM, Sunday, at Stockham Family Funeral Home with the family present from 2:00 to 4:00 PM.

Memorial contributions may be given to the American Legion Post #24 Building Fund or a charity of the donor's choice in care of Stockham Family Funeral Home. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Walter Lake, please visit our Sympathy Store.