Walter M. Patrice was born in Hoboken, New Jersey on October 14, 1919 to his proud parents John and Unetta Patrice. The family moved to Poughkeepsie, New York when Walter was 6 months old where he spent his formative years attending local schools. At Poughkeepsie High School, he excelled at football and baseball. He attended Johnson C. Smith College in Charlotte, North Carolina where he excelled at football so well that he was inducted into their Sports Hall of Fame. He attended Howard University and was captain of the baseball team .

Heeding his country's call to duty during World War II, he enlisted into the Army as a Private in 1942. He was commissioned as an officer in 1943 and served overseas in the Mediterranean theater. His four brothers also served in the armed services at the same time. Although the war ended in 1945, he continued to serve in the military until he was discharged as a First Lieutenant in 1946. That same year he and his sweetheart Myrtle, whom he met in Louisiana, were married in the Smith Metropolitan AME Zion Church in Poughkeepsie. At the time of her death in 2010, they celebrated 64 years of marriage.

As the AME church's historian, Walter was the driving force behind the church receiving Federal and New York State's designation as a National Historic Site in 199 2 .He was honored on November 11.2018 at the 182 ^nd church anniversary for service to country and church.

As a concerned citizen, Walter served on the Recreation Commission in Poughkeepsie for 12 years and the Poughkeepsie Planning Board for 5 years. His ideas and expertise were instrumental in the growth and changes for the City of Poughkeepsie. Walter Patrice is the most senior Catharine Street Community Center's "kid." His tenure and time had been as both a participant and leader in the programs and activities of this organization. This includes board membership and Interim Executive Director. He continued to inspire children and the staff at the Center. Mr. Patrice was honored by the Community Center in 1994 with the Martin Luther King, Jr. award for his Service to the Center and the Poughkeepsie community.

He served on the board of the Dutchess County Historical Society and was one of the founders of the Black History Project Committee . The society commemorated 2018 as the year of the veteran. He was the recipient of a special award for a lifetime of leadership. He was also a continuing member of the Executive Men's Club of Poughkeepsie.

Mr. Patrice received a plaque from Poughkeepsie's Warring Academy of Science and Technology in June 2005 for enlightening kindergarten through 5th grade students about the Civil War and World War II. He was named the Assistant Principal Emeritus at the school. His knowledge and interest in World War I I was shared with students at Vassar College.

In 1952, his 33 years career began at IBM in Poughkeepsie. He was in manufacturing and w a s an assistant in the · Equal Opportunity Department in East Fishkill. He administered the company's Faculty Loan Program which loaned technical employees to minority colleges. He was an instructor in Management Development in his last year at the Kenyon House in Poughkeepsi e . Mr. Patrice retired from IBM in 1985. He was a member of the American Society of Manufacturing Engineers.

Among his oth e r honors are induction into the Dutchess County Baseball Hall of Fame and the Dutchess County Sports Museum Hall of Fame. He was a member of the Colored Troops Museum of Hartwick College in Oneonta, New York. Upsilon Tau Chapter of the Omega Fraternity, Inc. recognized him for his military, social and community contributions with a citation presented on November 12, 2011.

Walter, affectionately known a s "Toot" to his many friends, continued to be an inspiration to everyone who knew him. He imparted his knowledge to everyone who wanted to learn about history from one who knew and loved i t .

Walter was predeceased by his loving wife Myrtle, his daughter Linda, his parents and eight siblings. He is survived his son Richard and his wife Sharon of Park Forest, Illinois; grandchildren Keyshla and Calandra of Poughkeepsie, Kianna of Park Forest; great-grandchildren Kerron, Zayirah and Ameena all of Poughkeepsie, as well as a host of nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers donations in his honor may be sent to Dutchess County Historical Society, DCHS PO Box 88, Poughkeepsie NY 12602.

Calling hour will be Friday December 21, 2018 from 10-11am at St. Mark AME Zion Church, 73 Pershing Ave., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 with a funeral service beginning at 11am. Entombment to follow in Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery Mausoleum. Arrangements have been entrusted with Joseph J. Darrow Sr. Funeral Home Inc. To send online condolences, please visit www.darrowfuneralhome.org