WALTER F. MATHERS

Some knew him in his later years as Frank. Most called him Walt. In the end, they all called him friend. His story began in June, 1949 as the second of four children born to Frank and Loucel Mathers.

Growing up in Baltimore, Walt adapted quite well to his blue collar neighborhood surroundings. He displayed from an early age, a unique penchant for doing his own thing, when he decided to it. Either by procrastinating or with lightning speed. This would later create a saying that unlike the rest of us, he was on WMT. Walt Mathers Time.

One day at the age of 3 while visiting his grandparents on Dulany Street, Walt suddenly turned up missing. Not to worry. An official from adjacent Public School 68 brought the lad across the alley and back to the house. He explained to the relieved elders that Walt apparently ran to the schoolyard during a recess period, hit it off with the first graders, and then decided to go inside to the classroom with the kids to attend school. That is, until a sharp-eyed teacher noticed him, questioned him as to whence he came, and made arrangements to send him home.

A few years later, when Walt was OFFICIALLY a student at that same school, he got bored one Spring day and made the decision to leave the classroom. Not through the door, but instead climbed out of a second-story window, jumped onto a smokestack, shinnied down the ladder, and took off down the street.

Throughout his formative years and into his teens, Walt adapted to the contours and ways of his Southwest Baltimore neighborhood. He was always interested in discovery. The many forays into the nearby woods, walking along the tracks, and exploring the Gwynns Falls, all served as a trigger for the decades to come when he would become an authority on the history of the Mill Hill community.

After graduating from elementary school and Gwynns Falls Park Junior High, it was on to Mergenthaler High School. Walt attended Mervo as it was known and rather quickly exhibited a tremendous artistic ability for painting.
He was also a gifted baseball player with tremendous power and bat speed. At the age of 16 Walt attended a tryout at Spring Grove athletic field in Catonsville. That day, he hit one or more balls over 400 feet and quickly gained the attention of one person who was there to look for talent.

That individual was Walter Youse. A well-known scout for the Baltimore Orioles, Youse was driving away from the field when he spotted Walt walking down the street with bat, glove, and spikes over one shoulder. The man pulled over and said, 'Young man, you have talent. But you're only 16. I'd like you to come back next year when you're a year older and we will take a more serious look at you.

Baseball would stay in his blood for a long time to come, but in keeping with his pattern of adding new pursuits, Walt took up drumming, and played with friends in neighborhood bands.

After leaving school in 1967, he enlisted in the US Navy and began basic training in November of that year.

Walt served his hitch and returned to civilian life in the Spring of 1971.

In 1972, he enrolled as a student at the Maryland Institute of Art and later that year hired on as an employee with the B&O Railroad. Working the rails would be his lifelong vocation as he completed nearly 25 years in service before leaving at the end of the 90's.

Walt never lost his love for adventure. The stories are many, and here are two. In 1972, he, his younger brother Bob, and a friend decided to ride the Patapsco River in a rowboat looking at the devastation along the way caused by Hurricane Agnes just days before. The journey ended at the future inner harbor after motoring there from the mouth of the river in Brooklyn.

As a teenager, Walt enjoyed his love of trains by hopping box cars and taking them to destinations unknown. One such trip saw him and friend Duke O'Connell traveling across the Susquehanna River and into Cecil County. This was in winter. Snow was on the ground. The day was ending and Walt had to make it back home before curfew.
His solution was to jump from a moving train at 20 miles per hour, land on snow covered rocks, and roll halfway down a hill before coming to a stop. His friend jumped off later. The two of them made it back to Baltimore by catching another freight heading back into the city.

Walt married Susan Carney in the Fall of 1974. They purchased a house on Marley Creek in Anne Arundel County in the summer of 1976. His daughter Leslie was born in February of 1977.

Walt's love of history manifested itself in Civil War re-enacting. He decided to recreate the Battle of Monocacy in Frederick County in 1981. The event was much praised for its success in drawing attendees and execution of living history of that pivotal 1860's moment.

Using this approach of attention to detail, and showing an ability to convince others to work with him, Walt would go on to similar and even greater successes. He became known for his work in promoting events in Baltimore's maritime community, and places of historical significance like the Baltimore Fire Museum, the B&O Railroad Museum, and the Baltimore Museum of Industry.

One of Walt's greatest achievements was the Camp Carroll reenactment. Against much resistance from some who said it could not be done, he received the blessing and support of an official from the B&O Railroad Museum and created an event that encompassed an area extending from the museum to Carroll Park, replete with steam locomotives, re-enactors, vendors, and demonstrations. The production became for many years the most successful in terms of attendance and participation in the long history of the B&O Railroad Museum. The single highest one attended since the museum opened.

Walt embraced his heritage by promoting and working with Baltimore's German community. He joined Ted Potthast, Lothar Boczek and brother Bob Mathers to create German American Radio, one of the most popular internet radio stations of German music in the world. He was a tireless worker promoting the Henry Gunther Memorial, the observance of the 1916 visit to Baltimore by the U-Boat Deutschland, the Edelweiss Club of Baltimore, and German American Day at Kurtz' Beach.

Walt also loaned his talent and drive to causes like the preservation promotion, and restoration of the nuclear ship Savannah, coordinating National Maritime Day at the harbor, and the Baltimore and Chesapeake Steamboat Company, centering on the restoration and permanent dockage of the 1940 fireboat Charles D. Gaither.

Walt gave of his time to clubs and organizations by acting and appearing in roles ranging from Santa Claus to Soldiers of Wars Past.

His efforts in promoting history of the 21223 neighborhood and his attendance and contributions during the more than ten years of area reunions endeared him to many old friends and the addition of new friends from that community.

Walt's personal life underwent transition in the mid to late 80's when he became a single parent following the dissolution of his first marriage. Around the same time, he accepted the call to trust Christ as his savior and began a work in progress that produced much fruit for the Lord in the ensuing years.

Walt met Valerie Smith and after a courtship of ten years, married her in September 2006.

Valerie was a museum educator at various institutions who transitioned to homemaker and worked side by side with Walt for the remainder of his days.

Known for his energy, enthusiasm, and engaging manner with everyone he met, Walt continued up until the time of his departure, making friends, devising plans, and encouraging others.
Of all Walt's successes, he would be happy to tell you from his new residence in Heaven, that the decision to trust Jesus Christ as his personal savior was by far the most important and fulfilling of all he ever made.

When he was given the news by doctors in January 2023 that he had contracted blood cancer, and also told he had a 30 percent chance of survival, Walt replied, 'even if I am in the bottom two-thirds, I'll still be graduating.' He then held up one finger pointing skyward, later adding, 'Either way, I'm either coming home or going home.'

Walt also shared with family that at the moment of hearing the news, he said, 'Holy Spirit, here am I. Send me.'

In the words of Navy Fleet Admiral William F. 'Bull' Halsey…

'There are no great men, only great challenges that ordinary men are forced by circumstances to meet'

He used his remaining weeks to share Christ with almost everyone he held a conversation with. It was time well redeemed.

At 5:04 PM on Friday March 17, 2023, the Lord called him home. When Valerie broke the news to family, she simply said, 'He's graduated.'

Walt Mathers lived a full and productive life. His legacy will live on for a long time to come and likely have more impact than he ever thought it would.

He is survived by his wife Valerie, along with daughter Leslie, and grandchildren Reagan, Kaidee-Colleen, Jonas, and Levi. Also surviving are sisters Lynda Turner and Gail Palazzo, and brother Bob Mathers

Walt would on occasion (and again just 10 days prior to his homegoing) mention the verse of scripture placed in his late father's coffin at the Hubbard Funeral Home in January, 1987. It was one of many that provided him strength, encouragement, and determination to press forward to his departure home.
John 11:25 – Jesus said, 'I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in Me, even after dying, shall live'

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.

The earthly bond is broken, but the eternal future looks bright.

We do not say goodbye. We say, 'See you later'.


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