Captain Arthur E. Walther USN (Ret)

Captain Arthur E. Walther USN (Ret)

December 16, 1938 – April 27, 2021

Art died at his home in Peoria, AZ five months after being diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia.  He was 82 years old.

Art was born in Chicago, IL, raised in Fullerton, CA and joined the Navy in 1957. While serving as an enlisted petty officer he was selected by the Secretary of the Navy for an appointment to the United States Naval Academy. Following his graduation with the Class of 1963, he attended Nuclear Power School and Submarine school in preparation of a nuclear submarine career.  He served on seven submarines and felt fortunate and privileged to have eight years in command of two fast attack submarines and a large surface submarine tender.

He retired in 1993 after 36 years in the Navy. The personal decorations he received during those years include the Legion of Merit (four awards), Meritorious Service Award (three awards), Navy Commendation and the Navy Achievement Medal (two awards).  He was also authorized to wear the Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon (five awards), Battle Efficiency “E” Ribbon (three awards), Good Conduct Award, Navy Expeditionary Metal (two awards), National Defense Medal (two awards), and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (five awards).

During those military years, Art also attended and graduated from the Naval War College earning an M.A. in Strategic Studies, while simultaneously attending Salve Regina University earning an M.S. degree in the Field of Management.

Art was known for being a man of his word and had great integrity, always giving credit whenever and to whomever it was due. The men and women who served with him in his various commands were those in whom he put his trust and expectations that they would always perform to the best of their training and ability, and he always tried to make sure they got the decorations and/or awards due them and endeavored, where he could, help them move forward in their military career. Many of those same men and women over the past 28 years still reached out to him both in personal visits, letters, emails and calls, all to his great delight. 

Art firmly believed in volunteerism and giving back to one’s community, and he followed that belief in deeds. During 26 years of his retirement, he became a leader and very active member of Kiwanis International.  He spent many hours working on food and clothing fund drives for those less fortunate, working with Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, the local Food Bank, Senior Assistant groups, with young children in the lower grades in reading programs, and with high school Key Club kids in their volunteer efforts and in planning goals for their future.  Art also volunteered in his community at large as not only a committee member but headed up several community boards on projects that he believed would help the community in which he lived.

In his younger years Art ran in marathons, played tennis and racquetball, and loved playing bridge. Living the last 17 years of his life in AZ, he enjoyed playing golf as often as possible, which was frequently due the abundance of sunshine. He also had a great group of poker buddies who met weekly, no great amount of monies were won, but they sure had fun.

Enjoying a great career as a Submariner and spending 15 years of his career off and on in Hawaii, Art’s final wishes were to be buried at sea topside of a submarine in the ocean off the shores of Hawaii. It brings peace to his family that those wishes are being honored.

Art leaves behind his adoring wife and partner of 62 years Peggy, two wonderful and amazingly accomplished children, son Paul and daughter Jennifer, and three truly enjoyable, very bright grandchildren, Cameron, Tianna, and Cara, and his precious great granddaughters Leona and Annie. His very much-loved sister Pam, and her family, his sister-in-law Dana, and his “oh so much fun” three cousins Barbara, Phyllis, and Margie and their families in Chicago.

Being the strong man that he was, his wife and children were Blessed that in the last hours of his life they were able to have short, but lucid moments with him to convey how much they loved him, and he was able to convey his love for them. He later passed peacefully from this life with his wife by his side holding his hand.

A celebration of Art’s amazing life will be held in Peoria, AZ in August 2021.  Notification of time and place will be sent out.

Should you wish to donate in his memory, please do so to a charity of your choice or the Wounded Warrior Project.

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