Walter Willis Alford

1909 LA – 1998 LA

AAFA #0073

 

From AAFA files

Source unknown

_____, LA—Friday, 6 March 1998

 

FRANKLINTON—Retired United States Marine Corps Lt. Col. Walter Willis Alford, 88, a native of Mt. Hermon and a resident of Franklinton, died early yesterday morning [March 5] at Riverside Medical Center.

            He retired from the Marine Corps with 30 years of service and was a veteran of World War II. He was also a member of the Disabled American Veterans.

            He is survived by his wife, Mary Ellen Alford of Franklinton; a step-son, Carl Obanion [sic—should be O’Banion] of Tustin, CA.; two brothers, Keith Alford of Mt. Hermon and Milton Alford of Pearland, TX; and several nieces and nephews.

            Visitation will be held at Crain Funeral Home from 5-9 p.m. today and after 9 a.m. tomorrow.

            The funeral is scheduled for 11 a.m. tomorrow in the funeral home chapel.... Burial will follow in Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church Cemetery.

 

In another article:

 

THE ERA-LEADER

Franklinton, Washington Parish, LA—Wednesday, 18 March 1998

 

            Lt. Col Walter Willis Alford (USMC (Rtd.), 88, a native of Mt. Hermon and a resident of Franklinton died at 12:40 a.m. Thursday [March 5] at Riverside Medical Center.

            He retired from the Marine Corps with 30 years of service and was a veteran of World War II. He was also a member of Disabled American Veterans.

            Lt. Col. Alford is survived by his wife, Mary Ellen Alford of Franklinton; one step-son, Carl Obanion of Tustin, CA; two brothers, Keith Alford of Mt. Hermon and Milton Alford of Pearland, TX, and several nieces and nephews.

            Visitation was held at the Crain Funeral Home from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. Friday and after 9 a.m. Saturday.

            Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Saturday in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Harry Goynes and Rev. Otho Schilling officiating.

            Burial followed at the Mt. Pisgah Church Cemetery. Pallbearers for the service were U.S. Marines.

 

 

Photos from Mount Pisgah Cemetery, Franklinton, Washington Parish, LA—www.findagrave.com

Permission granted by the photographer, Keri Fuller Long, AAFA #1340

 

AAFA NOTES: SSDI records show that Walter Alford (SS# issued in CA) was born 31 October 1909.

            We included the obituaries of his wife, Mary Ellen Coursey Alford; and his brother Alton Keith Alford in this compilation.

            Walter was born in Washington Parish, LA, occupation Lt. Col. U.S.M.C., married 11 May 1941 in Yuma, AZ, Mary Ellen Coursey. “Walter Alford’s Marine Corps Memories” was published in the 30 August 1993 issue of Midway Mirror, and we reprinted it in the Fall 1994 issue of AAFA ACTION. Five generations of Walter’s ancestors were included with his In Remembrance article in the Winter 1999 issue.

            His lineage: Walter Willis 1909 LA1, Daniel Prophet 1886 LA2, Willis Jacob 1847 LA3, John Seaborn 1807 LA4, Jacob 1761 NC5, Julius 1717 VA6, James 1687 VA7, John 1645 VA⁸.