Gerald Walters 1947-2017

Gerald "Jerry" R. Walters, 70, passed away on Sunday, May 21, 2017 at the Siteman Cancer Center in St. Louis, Missouri.

He was born on May 16, 1947, in Granite City, Illinois, the son of the late Gerald G. and Joyce O. (Johnson) Walters.

Jerry worked as an attorney for over 40 years in the St. Louis Metropolitan Area. He served as a member of the board for the Illinois Lawyers' Assistance Program for 30 years, including president. In 2017, he received the Joseph R. Bartylak Achievement Award for his lifetime contributions to the organization.

After graduating from Granite City High School, he attended the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana where he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1969. Jerry then completed his first year at the University of Illinois College of Law. Then, from 1970 to 1972, Jerry served in the U.S. Army in South Korea, where he was awarded the Good Conduct Medal and Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. Upon his return from Korea, he finished his Juris Doctorate Degree in 1974.

Jerry enjoyed being active and was passionate about many activities such as racquetball, water-skiing and weightlifting. He won a gold medal in the 2008 St. Louis Senior Olympics and holds a record in the bench press. He was also a member of the Alton Masonic Lodge since 2003.

He is survived by his fiancé Jill Holland, and her mother, Jeri Holland; three children, Kendra Walters of Orange County, California, Scott Walters of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and Sarah Walters of Godfrey, Illinois; five grandchildren: Kelsey, Cameron, Garret, Riley and Rowan; a sister and her husband, Jackie and Keith Cutler of Hot Springs Village, Arkansas; a niece Nancy Cutler Mulder of Dallas, Texas.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and niece, Linda Cutler.