William W. “Bill” Walter, 91, of Freeport passed away peacefully at 2:40 p.m. Oct. 2 at the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System 646, Pittsburgh.

William was born in Rimersburg, June 7, 1920, the son of the late Candace (Fiscus) and William Blair Walter.

He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, taking part in the European theater during the liberation of France. He fought in five major battles in the European theater including the invasion on Omaha Beach in Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge.

Upon returning from Europe in 1945, he rejoined the Pennsylvania Railroad, later known as Conrail, and was a brakeman and conductor for more than 40 years.

He recently was named a Chevalier (knight) of the Legion of Honor by the French government for his contributions to the liberation of France, the highest honor bestowed by that country.

William loved working, building, hunting, wildlife and the outdoors. He had a genuine curiosity and zest for life and loved to travel with his wife, spending winters vacationing and exploring Florida together. He had an abiding love for the land and natural environment of the Allegheny Valley region, where he lived his whole life.

He is survived by his son, William Jeffrey Walter of Jacksonville, Fla.; three daughters, Patricia Walter-Ray of Torrance, Calif., Julia Alice Walter Lata of Columbia, Mo., and Susan Ellen Walter of Sonora, Calif.; 10 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and a brother, Wilbur Walter of East Brady.

William was preceded in death his wife, Alice Louise (Stephens) Walter, who passed away Oct. 22, 2008; three brothers, Harold, Jake and Frank Walter; a sister, Margie Wishart; and four other siblings, who died in infancy.

<B>WALTER</B> — Family and friends of William W. “Bill” Walter, who died Sunday, Oct. 2, 2011, will be received Friday, Oct. 14, from 6 to 8 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 15, from 10 until services at 11 a.m. in <B>Redmond Funeral Home</B>, 524 High St., Freeport. A funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. at the funeral home with the Rev. Edd Myers officiating. Burial will follow at Freeport Cemetery, Freeport.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be in William’s name to Freeport United Methodist Church, 213 Fourth St., Freeport PA 16229To send a condolence, visit www.redmondfuneralhomeinc.com.