Wally

Wally passed away peacefully after battling cancer for the past year. He was grateful for the excellent care he received from the VA clinics and hospital in Ann Arbor and Toledo. He spent his final days at the NW Ohio Hospice center in Perrysburg. The staff was very kind and gentle with his final needs.

Wally was born in Gatliff KY to Clarence and Carrie Lee Childress Siler. He was raised in Williamsburg, KY with many cousins, aunts and uncles. His grandparents, Roscoe and Nannie Siler and George and Bertha Childress were remembered fondly from his childhood. His stepfather, Ray Davenport, became part of his family when he was 7 years old and raised him to love sports and was a loving father until his passing.

Wally’s family moved to Toledo when he was 15 years old and he attended and graduated from Libbey High School in1966. At Libbey he met his high school sweetheart, Lynn Suter, and they were married on May 17, 1969 and had celebrated 54 anniversaries.

He was a proud American and his military experience was completing a year in the Naval reserves and then honoring his draft notice for the US Army to serve from November 1967 to November 1969. His main tour of duty was serving in the Vietnam War in 1968-1969, cut short by being wounded in a land mine accident. He was medevacked out of Vietnam and awarded the Purple Heart for his bravery. He was honorably discharged as an E-5 sergeant.

After his service obligation he and Lynn settled back in Toledo and he enjoyed working at Household Finance, Toledo Trust, Lo-Temp Brazing and finally retiring from Maumee Machine & Tool in 2014. He was a loyal and responsible employee for these many years. He also completed classes at Owens Community College and the University of Toledo, graduating with degrees in finance and business.

In his early adulthood he continued playing baseball and when he aged out of baseball he began a golfing career in many leagues over the years and continued bowling until he became too ill to play.

His faith journey began as a boy attending VBS at the Methodist church in Williamsburg KY. He became a member of Church of the Cross in Toledo in 1969 and was a faithful and active member. He loved his church family and the small group Bible studies.

Wally and Lynn’s family included their son, Gregory (deceased in 2005) and spouse Lori Osterhout Siler, and their daughter Rebecca (husband John) McDonagh. When he became a grandfather, he just adored and loved his granddaughters, Molly (Christian), Avery and Delaney. His great-granddaughter, Nora, delighted his days. He was preceded in death by his mother and step father, his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Bill and Millie Suter, and brother Wayne.

He is survived by his high school sweetheart, Lynn, his sister Vicki (John) Roth, his sisters-in-law: Pamela (John) Korn, Barbara (Brad) Christy and Sandra (David, deceased) Suter. His family circle includes the children of his sister, brother, and sisters-in-law: Kim, Jennifer, Rachel (deceased), Tom, Beth, Brian, Charles and Michael, and many Suter cousins and many Childress cousins.

A visitation is scheduled for Friday, March 15, from 2 pm to 8 pm at Walter Funeral Home, 4653 Glendale Ave., Toledo,OH 43614. A memorial service will be held at Church of the Cross, 1750 Eastgate Rd, Toledo OH 43614, on Saturday, March 16, with visitation beginning at 12 noon and the service beginning at 1:00 p.m.