Eugene T. Walters

Walters, Sr., Eugene ?Gene? Thomas, 95, of Seminole, died Friday July 2, 2004 at Seminole Nursing Pavilion. Born in Brooklyn, NY, he moved to Pinellas Park in 1969 after 43 years as a prominent regional executive in New York for The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company. In 1999, Mr. Walters moved to Seminole. During WWII, Mr. Walters served in the U.S. Navy Seabees in the European Theater of Operations. Gene was an active member and former usher of Trinity Lutheran Church. He was well known at church as the blind Carnation Man because of his donation and distribution of red and white carnations to the women present at church every Mother?s Day. Before his blindness, Gene had been a long-time Christmas bell ringer for the Salvation Army. Mr. Walters was a 32nd degree Mason and a life member of Kings County Lodge # 511 in Brooklyn, and Northside Lodge # 283, St. Petersburg, Free and Accepted Masons. He was a member of Scottish Rite Consistory in Tampa, a member of Egypt Shrine Temple of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, Northside and Gateway Shrine Clubs, and a life member of the Northside Memorial Association. Gene was an emeritus Chaplain and honorary life member of the Westgate Hi-12 Club # 393 of St. Petersburg. Gene was a proud member of the US Navy Seabee Veterans of America of Island X-1 and was a life member of the Blinded Veterans Association in Washington, DC. Survivors include his son: Dr. Douglas Bruce Walters of Raleigh, NC; his grandson: Thomas Eugene Walters of Hamilton Square, NJ; his granddaughter: Patricia Jean Walters of Olathe, Kansas; and numerous nieces and nephews.