Walt was born in Pocatello, ID to William Akers and Martha F. Akers, both of Harold, KY. He lived in Pocatello until his family moved to a farm on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation in 1929.

      He graduated from Pocatello High School and obtained a B.S. in Military Science from the University of Maryland while serving in the U.S. Army. Prior to his enlistment in the U.S. Army in 1942, he worked for the Union Pacific Railroad in Pocatello and for the U.S. Navy Department in Washington D.C. He felt he was presented a great honor when he was promoted to "buck" sergeant after only seven months in the service.

      He was selected by his superiors to attend Officer Candidate School where he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in June 1943. He served in the infantry, armor and transportation corps during his 32 years of service and was promoted to full Colonel in 1965. He served in France in a tank battalion until the end of World War II, and then in Germany, 1945. He was an advisor to the Taiwanese Army in 1958, the Battalion Commander, 38th Transportation Battalion, Worms, Germany from 1963-64. He was the Theatre Transportation Manager in South Vietnam from 1966-67 where he was awarded the Legion of Merit with three Oak Leaf Clusters. He served at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in Belgium from 1969 until his retirement in 1974.

      He found his soul mate in Susanne Brecht, a secretary and translator for the U.S. Army in Stuttgart Germany in 1952. They were married in Stuttgart in June 1955 and enjoyed 51 years together, the first 21 in the military and 30 years in Boise.

      After his retirement from the U.S. Army, he was a realtor in Boise. He spent many happy years enjoying his family and motorhomeing and boating in Idaho, the West Coast, and the southwest. He loved fishing, golfing and dancing to Glen Miller tunes at the Gowan Field Officers Club. He was an avid reader and kept abreast of world events to the end.

He had a great sense of humor, a curious mind that was happy coaxing radishes, beans and so forth out of the soil or reading the most inventive science fiction.

      He is survived by his loving wife, Susanne and three children and their spouses, Thomas (& Austine) Eversole of Alexandria, VA; Terrell (& Carmel) Akers of Petaluma CA; and Stephanie (& Scott) Larrondo of Boise. He is also the proud grandfather of three; and also three great-grandchildren. He has three surviving brothers, Kenas Akers, William Akers and Sherman Akers, all of Pocatello, one sister Gertrude Barrett of Las Vegas NV, cousins too numerous to list, nieces and nephews.

      He was preceded in death by his parents, William Akers and Martha Frasure Akers; and his brother Talbert.

      Funeral services are Nov. 9, 2006 at Summers Funeral Homes, Ustick Chapel. Interment will follow at Idaho State Veterans Cemetery with Military Honors.

The Idaho Statesman, November 7, 2006 Main Page 15