Walter P. Birmingham, Jr., 93, of Marblehead, passed away Monday, Nov. 7, at his home quietly with family at his side. He was the husband of the late June (Butler) Birmingham.
Born in Beverly, MA, Walter lived and was educated in Salem at the Saltonstall School and graduated from Salem high School in 1941. He then studied at Fitchburg State as an industrial arts teacher. He volunteered into the Army, and after basic training, he was sent by the Army to New York City College, and then the University of Alabama completing his B.S. In Civil Engineering. Walter spent ten years serving his country honorably in the U.S. Army during World War II as a Combat Engineer in both the Pacific and European theaters and later served during the Korean War. He finished his career as an instructor at the Army Combat Engineering School at Ft. Belvoir, VA. He ended his service as a Captain, and was awarded the Bronze Star. Returning home he moved to Marblehead where Walter pursued his professional career in the insurance industry working for Commercial Union/ One Beacon Insurance Company of England working at the Boston office starting off as an adjuster to overseeing all the property losses in North America for his company. He was a lifetime member of the DAV, American Legion, and the VFW and multiple other charities, social and arts groups. Walter was a parishioner of Star of the Sea, Marblehead. In his leisure time, he and his wife enjoyed traveling and photography and painting and spending time together at their home in Florida during the winters. Walter greatly loved his life and enjoyed his retirement spending his time with the love of his life, June. They were married for 63 years until June passed in 2010. He also treasured the time spent with his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and close friends.
He is survived by his sons, Brian Birmingham and his wife Nancy of Belchertown, MA, and Michael Birmingham and his wife Lynne of Marietta, GA; and his daughters Linda Sorembe of Marblehead, and Lorna Scullin and her husband John of Georgetown, MA; and his 12 grandchildren, and his 17 great-grandchildren.Funeral services are private. Any flowers or gifts should be donated to your local food bank.