Wooster Daily Record Nov 21, 1962 pg 12
Walter Painter, 83, Longtime College Staff Man, is Dead
Walter E. Painter, 83, who has been a resident of Wooster since 1909, active in civic, church and business affairs, died Thursday afternoon in St. Luke’s hospital, Cleveland, where he had been a patient since October17. He had been in failing health for several months.
Mr. Painter was born March 18, 1869 on Robinson Grove Farm, Licking County, one of a family of ten, all but three of whom chose careers in the field of education. The farm was operated by an older brother until this year, and Mr. Painter returned there frequently, taking great pride and pleasure in it.
In his early years he taught school at Utica, Pataskala, Minneapolis, Minn, Shelby and Bedford, from where the family came to Wooster in 1909.
When he first came to Wooster, Mr. Painter became assistant principal of Wooster Academy, operating under the direction of the late J. H. Dickason, and served until it closed in 1918. He was also associated with Mr. Dickason in the operation of the then mushrooming Wooster Summer school, which , at its peak, enrolled more then 1,500 students for summer courses.
Mr. Painter in 1913 became assistant secretary of the People’s Savings & Loan Co., then housed in a small frame building on the site of its present five-story home. He was with this organization in temporary quarters on East Liberty st. while the new building was erected.
At the end of five years he returned to the College as assistant treasurer, being associated with the late J. R. McLaughlin. During his tenure there the new Galpin administration building was constructed, and when he retired in 1940, his offices were located there.
His own struggle for an education as a farm youth made him especially sympathetic with generations of Wooster students and their financial problems.
While a student at Ohio Northern University, he met Miss Harriet Drake, whom he later married, and who survives him. In Wooster the family has lived continuously in the same home at 1577 Cleveland road. Surrounded by pasture fields when they came to Wooster, it is now in the center of a rapidly expanding residential area.
The Village of Bloomington was incorporated soon after the Painter family came to Wooster and when the first mayor, Dr. D. j. Satterfield, resigned after having served only a few months, he was elected to the position, and re-elected as often as his term expired until 1926 when Bloomington was annexed to Wooster.
Mr. Painter was a charter member of the Wooster Lions club.
During his 43 years in Wooster he was an active member of Westminster Presbyterian church, serving as an elder, and for 36 years as treasurer. His interest in music extended from his early childhood to a few weeks ago when he was planning orchestrations of Christmas music to play with his grandchildren. For many years he played in the Wooster Symphony and was treasurer of the Musical Arts association.
Surviving in addition to his wife, are a daughter, Sarah, of the College Library who lives at home; Florence (Mrs. Ray A. Griffith) of Wooster; Miriam (Mrs. Fred A Palmer of Worthington; Harriet (Mrs. W. Dean Hopkins) of Lakewood; nine grandchildren and one great grandson; a brother David H. of Calistoga, Calif., a brother Burton of Newark, and a sister Myrtle of Mt. Vernon.
Services will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at Westminster chapel, with the Rev. James R. Blackwood officiating. Burial will be in Wooster cemetery.
Friends may call at the family home, 1577 Cleveland Road, after 7 this evening. The family requests friends to omit sending flowers, but suggest that those who desire may contribute, instead to the organ fund at the College chapel.