PRINCETON, Ind. —Walter E. McDermott, 92, of Princeton, passed away on Thursday, June 25, 2009, at the Deaconess Hospital in Evansville, Ind. He was born March 29, 1917, in Indianapolis, Ind., to James and Catherine (Kramer) McDermott. He married Pearl (Bertram) on December 24, 1942, and she preceded him in death on October 20, 1996. He then married Betty (Sides) on August 19, 2000, and she survives.

Walter moved to Patoka in 1928 and graduated from Patoka High School in 1935. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in June 1941, and served in Field Artillery in the 5th Army in the European Theatre, starting in Africa. Discharged as a Staff Sergeant in August 1945, Walter received the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. He worked for the U.S. Post Office Dept. as a railway mail clerk, sorting mail en route from Evansville to Chicago and later as a clerk on a highway post office from Evansville to Indianapolis. He retired in 1972 from the U.S. Postal Service and then worked in Production Control at Potter & Brumfield. Walter was active in the Republican Party and elected to two 4-year terms as Clerk-Treasurer for the city of Princeton. He was a life member of the V.F.W. Post 1147, serving in their funeral detail for many years. He also was a member of the D.A.V., American Legion, F.O.P., Prince Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite, Hadi Temple and Golf League, Gibson County Shrine Club, Order of Eastern Star, Elks and served as an assistant leader in the Boy Scouts of America. He was a member of Hillside Methodist Church and former member of St. Mark's Methodist and Evangelical United Brethren Church where he served as lay leader, trustee, Sunday School teacher and choir member. Walter loved to play golf, travel, fish, cook, make candy and tell stories.

Besides his first wife and his parents, he was also preceded in death by his four brothers, Arthur, Jerauld, Fred and Darwin; and his two sisters, Anna and Goldie.

In addition to his wife, also surviving are a son, Phil McDermott of Orlando, Fla.; daughters and sons-in-law, Pam and Chris Robison of Princeton and Becky and Steve Smith of Terre Haute; grandson, Ryan Smith of Terre Haute; stepdaughters and husbands, Sandy and Dan King of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Belinda and Chris Oberle of Escondido, Calif.; stepgrandchildren, Kevin and Christina King, Kayla Oberle, Kelly (Scott) Wirey; and stepgreat-grandson, Connor Wirey; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral Services will be held on Monday, June 29, 2009, at 11 a.m. at the Hillside United Methodist Church in Princeton with the Rev. Craig Duke and the Rev. Brian Cook officiating. Burial will be at the Columbia White Church Cemetery in Princeton. Visitation will be from 4 until 8 p.m. on Sunday and from 9 a.m. until service time on Monday at the church. VFW Post #1147 will provide full military rites at the cemetery. Colvin Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.