By Staff
Walter S. Gust, 82, of Washington, NC died at home with his family on Monday, November 1st. Walt is survived by his wife of 58 years, Colette M. (Herlan) Gust, their children W. William and Mary Gust of Roanoke, VA; Cynthia (Gust) and Daniel Ellert of Annandale, VA; Mary-Colette (Gust) and Robert Donovan of Centreville, VA. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Nancy (Gust) Lexo in 2007. He is also survived by 11 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren; and a younger brother, Jarvis E. Gust of Fayetteville, NC.
Walt was born on September 24, 1928 in Fayetteville, NC to Walter and Thelma Gust. He entered the Army in 1948 and began a distinguished career in the Army Signal Corps. He served in the Korean and Vietnam Wars as well as during the Congo civil war. Walter met Colette Herlan on July 4th, 1950 in NYC and married in June 1952. Together they raised a family moving to assignments in Ft. Monmouth, NJ; Ft. Benning, GA; Taipei, Taiwan; Stuttgart, Germany; MacDill AFB, FL and finally at the Defense Communication Agency in Washington, DC. He was awarded the Legion of Merit, Army Commendations, Meritorious Service, and the Department of Defense Joint Service Commendations medals among others. After retiring from the Army in 1971 as a Lieutenant Colonel, Walt began a second career with the Veteran’s Administration (VA) and served as Deputy Director of Telecommunications implementing the first Government internet and e-mail communications system. In 1989, Walt retired from the VA, receiving the Distinguished Career award. He and Colette moved to Washington, NC and took up a third career sailing, traveling and volunteering. He volunteered at the local NC Estuarium, Mother of Mercy’s St. Vincent DePaul Society, and was a board member of the Zion Shelter. He also was a member of the Washington Yacht and Country Club and the Moms and Pops at Mother of Mercy Church. He also enjoyed tinkering, inventing and repairing things, and was loved by many.
A funeral mass service will be held 12 noon Saturday, November 6, 2010 at Mother of Mercy Catholic Church. Burial will be held at a later date at the Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the Community Home Care and Hospice, 814 Washington Plaza, Washington, NC, 27889 and “St. Vincent DePaul Society”, Mother of Mercy Catholic Church, 112 West 9th Street, Washington, NC.
Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.paulfuneralhome.com.
Paul Funeral Home of Washington is honored to serve the Gust family.
Paid Obituary