Walter Chester Hanger, 96, of Charlottesville, went home to be with his Lord on Thursday, October 9, 2014, at his home.
He was a son of the late William C. Hanger and Lucie (Clemmer) Hanger. He was born November 11, 1917, in Augusta County. He grew up at 1001 Walnut Street, Staunton, Virginia. He attended Staunton Public Schools, graduating at the age of 17. He attended Dunsmore Business College, and then attended Davis College in North Carolina.
After college Walter worked with McClure Printing Company in Staunton. He served in the Army Air Corp from 1942 until 1946 during World War II. When he returned from service he worked at the Staunton Post Office for six months, and then transferred to the United States Postal Service in Miami, Florida, as a mail carrier.
Upon his retirement from the Postal Service in 1978, he continued living in Miami, seeing of the needs of his friends and neighbors. Each year Walter made frequent trips back home to Virginia and to Illinois to see his family.
In 1998, he returned to his hometown in Staunton, where he helped his community by serving Meals on Wheels and visiting several nursing homes. In 2011, he moved to Charlottesville, residing with his niece, Leanna Marshall and her husband, Hunter. Mr. Hanger was a member of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Staunton.
While in Charlottesville, he attended Bethany Baptist Church, where he was an uncle to everyone. Mr. Hanger is survived by his daughter, Melody Lane Hanger of Ormond Beach, Florida; and her mother, Elizabeth “Beth” Hanger.
He was preceded in death by his stepmother, Sadie (Williams) Hanger; and his sisters, Frances (Hanger) Trogdon, Hannah (Hanger) Crosby, Gladys Eilene Hanger, Dorothy (Hanger) Kline and Phyllis Jean (Hanger) Lindstrom.
He leaves behind many nieces, cousins, nephews and friends. A funeral service will be conducted 11 a.m. Monday, October 13, 2014, at the Staunton Chapel of Reynolds Hamrick Funeral Homes with the Reverend Ethan Allison and the Reverend Robert Price officiating. Interment will follow in Thornrose Cemetery with military honors.
The family will receive friends from 6 until 7:30 p.m. Sunday, October 12, 2014, at the funeral home. Active pallbearers will be Pete Banton, Paul Brown, Gerald Botkin, Keith Crosby, Wayne Crosby, David Houchens, Blair “BB” Hanger and Calvin Trogdon. Honorary pallbearers will by Tappy Jones, Jeff King and Ed Madrowsky.
The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to Hospice of the Piedmont, 675 Peter Jefferson Parkway, Suite 300, Charlottesville, VA 22911 www.hopva.org.
Relatives and friends may share condolences and memories with the family online by visiting www.reynoldshamrickfuneralhomes.com.