Walter Greenway

Walter Greenway was born in Hamilton, Ohio, on January 14, 1930 and passed into God’s loving arms on July 7, 2017. He grew up in the Mason, Ohio, area and graduated as salutatorian of the Mason High School class of 1948. He served in San Antonio and Fort Polk, Louisiana, as a Medic in the United States Army during the Korean War. Following the war, he moved to Port Arthur and worked first as a machinist trainee for Gulf Oil, then as a machinist and then as a refinery inspector. After taking early retirement, he worked in many U.S. locations as a contract inspector during refinery turnarounds.

Walter was a dedicated member of First United Methodist Church of Beaumont; he enjoyed his service as a front office volunteer. For many years he also volunteered at Some Other Place, until his health prevented his doing so.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Viola Turner, his biological father, Arthur Greenway (who had entered the U.S. illegally and was deported when Walter was 2), his step-father, Oscar Norris, who was “Dad” to him, and his best friend of many years, Ed Simpson. He is survived by his devoted wife Janie, truly the love of his life; his son Steve of Port Arthur; his daughter-in-love, Erin Echels and her children Don Chachere and Jamie Scott, all of Beaumont; his son-in-love, Jim Echels, his wife Beth, and their children Amelia and Joshua, all of Bee Cave; many cousins; and numerous friends.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, July 14, at First United Methodist Church, 701 Calder, Beaumont.

Any memorial gifts may be directed to the Friends of Music Fund at First United Methodist Church or to Some Other Place. He donated his body to the Willed Body Program at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.