Kenneth "Ken" Charles Walters

Kenneth (AKA Ken or Kenny) Charles Walters, 72, passed away Saturday, May 20, 2023 in Ft. Myers, FL.

Born in September 1950 in McKeesport, PA to Marie and Jess Walters, Ken was best known for his goofy sense of humor, cheerfulness, kind and generous heart, love for his family near and far, sincere Catholic faith, appreciation of music, and love for travel.

He attended schools in Florida along with his older sister Beatrice (AKA “Pinky”).

He served in the Navy from 1968 to 1972, including time aboard the SSBN-656 George Washington Carver, the Trepang, and the Hardhead submarines.  He saw Scotland and Spain and went under the polar ice cap.

Next he worked for Delta Airlines from 1972 until 1995, first as a baggage handler and later as a  freight agent.

During that time, he fell in love with and married Jean Hilla, with whom he enjoyed 49 years of marriage.  They moved from Miami to Georgia and back to Florida where he and Jean welcomed son Kenneth and daughter Katie in the late 70s.  He enjoyed traveling with his family on vacations to Canada, Germany, Hawaii, California, Chattanooga, and many other states, as well as local day-trips to parks and song-filled road trips to Grandma’s house.  

Ken’s hobbies included swimming, boating, fishing (though he didn’t eat fish), playing various card games, tetris and Dr. Mario, laying his head between 2 enormous speakers and blasting the 1812 Overture while home alone on days off, rescuing his family from bugs and tree-frogs, volunteering at church and being in organizations such as Knights of Columbus, nocturnal adoration, and church choir. 

In 1995, he joined Jean working in their Christian bookstore, In His Hands.  For them, it was not only a business, but also an opportunity to share their faith and minister to others.

After that, he and Jean volunteered in Kentucky and later California.  With the arrival of the first grandchild, Jean and Ken returned to Florida and enjoyed their new roles as grandparents, taking the grandkids canoeing, to the movies and parks, and enjoying their interests like art, science, and VeggieTales. During that time he also was employed as a driver of school bus and city bus.

Other accomplishments include donating gallons of blood, climbing the Zugspitz in Austria, slalom waterskiing, tobogganing down the Racoon Mountain alpine slide, and being a Boy Scout leader. 

A few of his favorite things include pretzels in chocolate marshmallow ice cream, watching the start of a rainstorm come down the street, the laser light show at Stone Mountain, rabbits as pets, a horse as a beer buddy, chocolate pie, dogs, Sherman’s Lagoon cartoons, Gary Larson humor, and The Hunt for the Red October.

Ken is survived by wife, Jean; sister, Beatrice “Pinky” Reichert (her husband Tom); son, Ken; daughter, Katie, grandchildren, Alex, Liam, Isaac, and Lily; In-laws, Larry and Susan, Steve and Elizabeth, Patty and Mark, Michael and Blanca, and Barbara; as well as beloved nieces and nephews.  

All are welcome to come honor Ken’s life with us:

Visitation - Friday June 9, 2023 open house style: 5 PM - 7 PM at Mullins Memorial, 3654 Palm Beach Blvd., Fort Myers, FL 33916.

Funeral Mass and internment of ashes in the church’s memorial area: 10:30 AM on Saturday June 10, 2023, St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 13031 Palm Beach Blvd., Fort Myers, FL  33905.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to St. Jude Children's Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN38105.

Mullins Memorial Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Fort Myers, is entrusted with final care.