Walter C. Crocker Sr.

Walter C. Crocker, Sr. of Apollo Beach, Florida, died unexpectedly at the age of 87 on May 10, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. He was the husband of the late Joan MacDonald Crocker and was formerly a resident of Hanover MA, Mashpee MA, and Belgrade, ME. 
He is survived by his sons Walter C. Crocker, Jr. of Plymouth, MA and Thomas Crocker of Bluffton, SC, by his companion Barbara Fisher of Apollo Beach, FL, by his brothers Richard H. Crocker and his wife Marilee of Oak Island, NC, and Robert C. Crocker and his wife Judith of Falmouth, MA, by his sister Rosalind A. Hensor and her husband Michael Alexander of Apollo Beach, FL, by his grandchildren Amber, Billy, Michael, and Alexandra, and by his great-grandchildren Madeline and Caroline. He is also survived by numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Walter was born in Quincy, MA to the late Walter H. and Hazel M. Crocker. He studied at Boston Tech and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He spent 25 years as an analyst and programmer at IBM before retiring in 1991. He also worked at State Street Bank and at Cherry Webb and Touriane. He was a proud veteran, serving as a Navy sonar operator on the USS Ottersetter, and as a member or the Army National Guard. 
He is predeceased by his wife, by his sons Stephen M. Crocker and John F. Crocker, and by his brother Henry C. Crocker. 
Relatives and friends are invited to attend a graveside interment service on Tuesday, June 28 at 11:00 AM in Mount Hope Cemetery, Weymouth MA. 
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Lung Association

Let me tell you about my Dad, Walter Chesley Crocker Sr. A man who was larger than life and brought joy and happiness to all those he encountered. The rock, the teacher, the giver, our loving Dad.
The 1st half of his life devoted to taking care of his Family, Wife Joan the boys Walter, Stephen, Tom & John and from my 1st memory having my grandmother and aunt living with us through my childhood. Dad took care of mom’s sister and kids and they lived with us for a period of time too. At one point in Connecticut, we had 5 adults, 7 children, 2 dogs and 2 cats in one home. Dad took care of everyone. 
Dad was a selfless man who worked not just his job at the time IBM but also renovated homes and flipped them, he was a draftsman and designed homes, he fixed all the cars the boys damaged over the years growing up. He was the strength of who we were always fixing what we broke and a strong shoulder to lean on when things were tough. We moved many times as kids as Dad accepted challenges with his job, Connecticut 2 times, New York, Massachusetts 3 times, Texas, Georgia, Vermont 2 times. Dad spent time in Germany too. Dad worked with computers, programmed, worked on Fly by wire systems. He took classes at MIT, went to baking school. (He made the best Pies).
Wally as you all know him was easy going, giving to a fault and really learned to have fun after our mom passed. Life challenges didn't stop after Mom Passed. Our brother John Passed 6 months later and Steve 3 years later. Dad was still in Maine at the time and after this he was off to Florida for his next life adventure. 
We thank God each day Dad had time with Barbara, the only other women my dad ever loved, Dad met Barbara Fisher playing bridge in Florida and spent 9 years together, taking cruises, vacationing in Aruba and visiting family and friends. He was full of life again with Barb, being close to my Aunt Roz, spending time in the summers with Sharon, eating, cooking & playing cards! Traveling & cruising, Aruba in late summers. If Dad could eat great food, drink and gamble hang out with friends and family he was perfect. Spending time and reconnecting with his brothers and sister gave dad lots of joy.
Sons Walt & Tom will cherish the time we had on this planet with him, all he taught us, I can cook anything, fix anything, and do anything because that's what Dad instilled in us. We worked hard every day to make him proud and to show him he was impactful to us. Dad was not always warm and fuzzy, but later in our lives we would hug him and tell him I Love you Dad, he would hug us back tight and say I love you too Son. I will miss that most.
Miss you Dad, thanks for the hugs when I needed them most, thanks for teaching us to be a good men, We love you.

My Nephew Mike Crocker added this memory:
I write this in loving memory of my Grandfather, Walter C. Crocker Sr.

He raised me as if I were his own son. I regard him as a father and the example he set is the unattainable standard I attempt to live up to as a man, husband, and father. Any successes I have had are directly attributable to him.

He selflessly gave and provided for as long as I can remember. He worked incredibly hard and traveled for long periods of time so his family could thrive. In his precious little time off, he would wake up and take me to hockey at absurdly early morning hours in the freezing cold of New England winters. He signed me up for hockey, baseball, soccer, swimming, and summer camps. After work he would volunteer his time at the bingo hall so my hockey team could have cheaper access to ice time. When I was a teenager, he would wake up at 4am and take me to work at Dunkin Donuts on the weekends to make the donuts. He would stay and make them with me without compensation. He said he just enjoyed doing it and spending time with me.

He knew everything. He could fix any problem. He could shingle a house, fix the roof, fix the plumbing, draw blueprints, fix a car, professionally landscape a yard, chlorinate a swimming pool, program a computer, grow a garden or rebuild a tractor just to name a few things. He taught me math, English and science, how to use computers, how to mow the lawn, how to change my spark plugs in my car and fix my brakes and countless other life lessons. He was the best cook and baker you would ever meet. His apple pie and Coq au vin are the best I’ve ever had.

He lived the life of ten men. He was a Navy Veteran who served during the Korean War. He was a husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He designed patented vacuum seal components and things used by NASA. He worked for some of the biggest contractors and corporations in America.

I could write a novel about my grandfather, his selflessness and the impact he had on our entire family, but will leave it at this: Gramps, I love and miss you very much. I will try my hardest to live up to the example you set for me. Everyone who had the privilege of knowing you is better for it. I will honor your legacy and carry your memory with me as long as I live.
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