Walter McCormack

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. -- Walter Mack McCormack, 83, of the Dogwood community died Thursday, July 20, 2006, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau.

He was born June 18, 1923, in Trimble, Tenn., son of Robert and Wava McCormack Spelling. His parents died when he was 18 months old and he was adopted by C.P. and Mollie McCormack. He first married Elsie Pauline Watts Feb. 6, 1947. She died Jan. 16, 1971. He later married Carol Johnson Miller-Spangberg.

McCormack was a member and deacon of First Christian Church at Matthews, Mo.

He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, serving as a gunners mate third class on the USS Franklin McVeigh, USS San Bruno and USS Sutherland.

Survivors include his wife; a son, Kenny McCormack of Cape Girardeau; two daughters, Linda Pearson of Pittsburg, Kan., Johnnie Thompson of San Diego, Calif.; 12 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

The funeral will be at 2 p.m. today at Shelby Funeral Home in East Prairie, with Brian Smith officiating. Burial will be in Dogwood Cemetery.