Walter M Windsor - singer, songwriter, radio announcer, TV host, actor, writer, journalist, music librarian, musician, director, radio station manager, television station manager, music historian, husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather

Walter Michael Windsor was a special man. He was born September 22, 1918, and he died on February 29, 2008.

The Celebration of the Life of Walter M. Windsor was held from 7 to 10 pm on Monday, March 10, 2008 at The Orlando Repertory Theatre in Orlando, Florida. There were approximately 150 very special people in attendance.

I hoped I would receive an email from Dad in Heaven saying how much he loved it! God hasn't installed an email system yet, so maybe that will give Dad a project to head up. But I know Dad and Mom were just overjoyed with everyone who came and with the thoughtful, funny, sad, and entertaining presentations.

We felt like it was a very good show, but we were the ones to put it together, and as Walter's kids, we have always thought highly of ourselves. :-) One thing is for sure, none of us had ever been to a "funeral" like that before, and we probably never will again.

We had a few glitches, but not bad for "live TV" with no rehearsals. It started 15 minutes late, and every single presenter took longer than we estimated, except Reverend Donna Conley who was right on time as she was at the graveside service. You may access a copy of the printed program for the Celebration by clicking on this pdf file link.

Many photos from the event are online on this web page -- www.walterwindsor.com/celebration.htm.

Because we ran over the time we anticipated, we may not have properly thanked some people. We'd like to be sure everyone knows how much we appreciated having you there.

Special thanks to the staff and management of WFTV Channel 9 for having a camera crew there the entire evening to create a video of the Celebration! The cameraman, Gary Singer, worked for Dad at Channel 9, and he's still there. The management of Channel 9 also made it possible for anchors Bob Opsahl and Martie Salt to take time off work between newscasts to come and see the show. If Channel 9 is not currently your TV news provider, please do us a favor and make the switch. Bob Jordan and his team do a great job, and they are truly special people. And in our world, we all need to support the special people!

Huge thanks to The Orlando Repertory Theatre. They provided the theatre and their wonderful staff at no charge to us, and they worked tirelessly to give us a great event. They also ended the evening with a touching presentation in which they named the "ghost light" that every theatre has so the stage will never go dark in honor of our Dad. The ghost light at The Rep is now named "Walter." PLEASE support The Rep by attending their wonderful shows during the years ahead!

Special thanks to all of Dad's musician friends. You meant so much to Dad over the last 20 years of his life. You were truly his best friends after my Mom died and he retired. We are so sorry that a glitch at the theatre did not get a piano onto the stage in the lobby so you could all perform! Our sincere apologies...and we hope you each got two slices of cheesecake!

Thanks to all of the members of the Guy Lombardo Appreciation SSociety for their attendance; every living member but one was in the audience, and only a blood clot kept her away. President Craig Linton was among the guests. Thanks to all of the friends of the various Windsors for coming -- some who never even knew Dad except as the father of a friend who they saw on TV or acting in the theatre.

For those of you who were unable to attend, we have photos on the web site. We also hope to have a DVD to send out. Please email us with your name and address if you would like to receive a DVD with the various presentations and performances.

The funeral was held at Glen Haven Memorial Park at 2:00 pm on March 10, 2008.

*********************************************************************

Walter Windsor became sick with aspiration pneumonia on January 12, 2008. He battled the pneumonia for 33 days in the hospital with no success. He then spent an additional 16 days in the Peachtree Christian Hospice in Duluth (Atlanta), Georgia. At 1:19 am on February 29, 2008, Walter took his last breath. He was 89 years young.

The 2008 photo above was taken on Dad's best day in the hospital - February 11. He rallied to be lucid and awake on February 11 and 12 so he could spend some quality time with his children and grandchildren. It was a really special time.

Dad never had a heart attack - never had a stroke - never had cancer of any type. He went to Mayo Clinic for a physical every year for as long as we can remember. Except for internal bleeding 10 years ago that was caused by a medication he was taking, he never had a serious health problem. He had no dementia whatsoever and remained extremely sharp mentally. He died much earlier than he would have due to the failure of a tiny valve in his pharynx that stopped closing when he swallowed. Because both food and air pass through the pharynx, the flap of connective tissue called the epiglottis must close over the trachea when food is swallowed to prevent choking or aspiration. Because it stopped working, food, beverages, even saliva and secretions went down into Dad's windpipe and lungs rather than into his stomach. The problem was complicated by acid reflux. This swallowing problem caused aspiration pneumonia that Dad was unable to defeat because his medical problem created a vicious cycle that was repeated every time he swallowed.

One of Dad's children or grandchildren (or one of his two home caregivers) was with him 24-hours-a-day since he was taken to the hospital on January 12. So, we had time to prepare ourselves somewhat for the loss of Dad. As those of you who know him well will not be at all surprised to learn, Dad issued very specific written instructions about what was to be done when he died. :-) The main message he delivered routinely over the last 15 years as he updated his wishes was that we not mourn his death but have a celebration of his life.

In keeping with Dad's wishes, we arranged to have a "Celebration of the Life of Walter M. Windsor" at the Orlando Repertory Theatre. Daughter Marty came up with that idea, and it was very fitting as Dad acted in several plays there; he was President of the theatre center and on the board for a number of years; and Dad was named after the Windsor Theatre. It seemed only fitting that the Celebration of His Life be at a theatre! There were speeches, funny stories, jokes, laughter, music, singing, a 90-year slide show, celebrities, paparazzi, camera crews, roving reporters, and Dad's favorite desserts.

Friends, former co-workers and business associates, musician friends, actor friends, and civic friends were all invited to join the family for this special time.

If there are others who you feel would want to know about Dad, please ask them to check this web site. If anyone wants to add a message to the Message Page on the web site, please just email me at bill@billwindsor.com.

Please do not send flowers. It was Dad's wish that anyone wishing to send something at his death send a donation to the American Cancer Society in the name of Mary Johnson Windsor: https://www.cancer.org/docroot/DON/DON_1_Donate_Online_Now_Auto_Custom.asp?don_promo=WebMem

Our father was a very special person and the very best of fathers, and on behalf of my brother, Tony, and sisters, Wendy and Marty, we thank you for your love and friendship over the years.

Bill Windsor
First-born Child of Walter Michael Windsor and Mary Garnett Johnson Windsor

News Coverage:

Article in the media column in the Orlando Sentinel -- http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_tv_tvblog/2008/02/walter-windsor.html

Article in the Orlando Sentinel online newspaper-- http://www.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment/orl-windsor0108mar01,0,68012.story?page=1.

Article in the March 1 edition of the Orlando Sentinel newspaper - Orlando Sentinel Local Section.

Obituary in the Orlando, Florida newspaper -- Walter Windsor Obituary

Obituary in Newcomer Funeral Home web site -- funeral home web site.

Article in the Shreveport, Louisiana newspaper -- Shreveport Times.

NAB SmartBrief -- This email newsletter sent to 22,000 broadcasting executives said: Obituary: Walter Windsor, 89, pioneering Orlando, Fla., TV-station exec. It provided a short statement and a link to the Orlando Sentinel article.

Obituary in the Lubbock, Texas newspaper -- Walter Windsor Obituary

Obituary in the Atlanta, Georgia newspaper -- Walter Windsor Obituary

Article in Variety Magazine -- http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117981795.html?categoryid=16&cs=1&nid=2562

Walter Windsor appeared on stage in dozens of plays, and he appeared in one movie produced by THE Frank Capra, The Negro Soldier. Click on the button below to start the movie. Drag the timeline to 21:20, and you will see him soon thereafter (21:32), and he begins speaking at 21:43. Dad welcomes the recruits to the United States Army.


1921: Little Walter in New York	1949: Walter was General Manager of WGBA Radio	1972: Walter and Mary at 25th Wedding Anniversary	2000: Walter, Billy, Marty, Tony, and Wendy at granddaughter Brittany's wedding	2008: Walter battling pneumonia in hospital