Walter S. Pharr ’38, of Winter Park, Fla., died peacefully on March 2, surrounded by his family. He was a native of North Carolina and a graduate of Davidson.
He was transferred to Orlando during World War II as a pilot in the Air Force; he served in New Guinea as a squadron commander, flying the P-38 and the P-61 Night Fighter, and was promoted to lieutenant colonel.
Pharr entered the real estate business in 1946 and worked in that industry for over 40 years. He helped organize and served as director of Habitat for Humanity of Orlando. He was also president of Orlando Board of Realtors, president of YMCA of Central Florida, chairman of Orange County Planning and Zoning Commission, president of Orlando Rotary, and director of Frontline Outreach.
As an elder of First Presbyterian Church, he served on the denomination’s Board of World Missions for many years. During that time, he and Janet traveled to all the church’s mission fields around the world.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Janet Pharr, 1814 Summerfield Rd., Winter Park, FL 32792; children, Suzanne Martin (Bob), Cynthia Brackett (Joe), Walter Pharr, Jr. (Jan), and Beverly Meadors (Dan); seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and two brothers, Hunter Pharr ’37 and Dux Pharr ’45.