Walter Charles Farrier

Walter Charles Farrier, born on March 15th, 1935 to Evelyn (Eyrich) and Walter Farrier, was a man who faced life unflinchingly and always made the most of what he was given. It was with his courage, strength, and love that he fought valiantly against COVID-19. During the evening of November 21st, 2020, Walter was held in the hearts of his family and everyone who loved him as he passed away.

Although born in Pennsylvania, Walt grew up and spent most of his life in Baltimore. He knew the city like the back of his hand and oftentimes acted as a tour guide for visiting relatives (and strangers) over the years. However, his love for nature and the Pennsylvanian landscapes never waned throughout his life.

In 1952, after “accidentally” saying he was of legal age despite only being seventeen, Walt joined the United States Air Force. He would serve until 1956, being stationed with his best friend and cousin, Don Renninger, during the Korean War. Through the Air Force, Walt was able to travel around the world, including to his favorite place in Newfoundland, Canada.

Walt always said his favorite thing about joining the Air Force (besides the planes), was returning home to his mother and sister Joan (Rolek). A year after being honorably discharged, he met Geraldine “Jerry” (Scieszka) at a wedding; a year later they would marry on November 29th, 1958, and their wedding photo would appear in an issue of Life magazine.

Though now home from the Air Force, Walt’s sense of duty did not stop there. Most of his free time found him at various churches or events aimed toward helping the homeless, and he made a note to bring a plate of homemade food each Thanksgiving to those in need. If someone he knew needed medication they couldn’t get to, Walt would personally deliver them. He would donate clothing and set up job interviews for veterans and always made sure to thank them for their service and welcomed them home.

Walt’s family would grow over the years with the birth of his daughters Ann Kimberly “Kim” (Steel) and Denise Ann (McCall), his sons Walter Richard “Rick” and (the late) Marshall Farrier, and his foster children, Shirley, Peter, Charles, David, and Paul. In 1961, Walt and his family moved into their new house, and over the next fifty-nine years it would be the location of many rambunctious parties and holidays, loud dinners, cherished memories, and dysfunctional, off-key and off-tune, versions of “Happy Birthday.”

During those fifty-nine years, Walt knew all of his neighbors, both old and new. Though his favorites lived two houses up the street from him; his brother- and sister-in-law, Stanley “Stas” Scieszka and Judith (Nixon), and their children Donna and David. The summers would lead to visits with the “Arizona crew;” Walt’s other brother-in-law (the late) Louis Scieszka and his three daughters, Daphne, Sabrina, and Christine. Walt and his family would also camp during the summer at Frontier Town with his sister Joan and her daughters Diane, Cindy, and Jackie.

Walt was also loved dearly by Jerry’s family. After “passing” the initiation of eating czernina (aka “duck blood soup”), Walt suddenly found himself a part of a large Polish family. The Farriers attended many parties at Aunt Stella and Uncle Lloyd Mockabee’s summer home in Bowleys Quarters, along with the rest of the Szymanik family.

Walt’s unparalleled zeal for life often led him on many adventures, most of which he humbly kept to himself. In the late 70s while working at the Maryland Penitentiary, he was cast as a guard in Al Pacino’s … And Justice for All. In a scene where they were meant to put on their uniforms, Walt struggled with his jacket, improvising the line, “the damn zipper is broken.” According to Walt, Pacino loved the addition. He can also be seen in the background of a scene tripping over the camera wire.

In 1980, Walt heard that the Linwood Children’s House, a home and program for children with autism, needed a new roof. Since Walt seemingly knew almost everyone, he was able to work his connections and obtain approval to put on his own carnival at the Howard County Fairgrounds, with the help of his friends, family, and chosen inmates from the Penitentiary. For his “personal commitment and contribution of time” Walt was awarded a Governor’s Citation from Maryland Governor Harry Hughes and was then interviewed by Oprah, who was still a Baltimore news anchor at the time.

Some of Walt’s other accomplishments included his ability to shoot an upside-down gun with his pinky and hit the mark, being yelled at during boot camp for his large head needing a special helmet, spreading out multiple books on his kitchen table to read about different perspectives on the same moment in history, and being offered a spot to shoot for the United States in the Olympics. Ultimately, he had to turn the offer down to instead take care of his family, whether blood or chosen, who always came first to him.

Walt was no stranger to hard work — he never made excuses and always put in his time. Whether it was walking through the city selling bread, working on tugboats in the Inner Harbor where he met his best friend George Subrick, making a lasting impression as “Pharaoh” during his time as a Captain at the Maryland Penitentiary, as a Den Father to Campfire Girls Kim, Denise, and the rest of their troupe, or running his own snowball stand.

While working at the snowball stand, he came to know almost everyone in the neighborhood. Whenever there was a sports tournament he would offer free marshmallow to the winners, and for the losers he would offer free marshmallow. His most popular flavors were egg custard, skylite, chocolate, and tutti frutti.

Walt’s final job before retiring was at Ejal Health Services, where he greeted everyone by name, a smile, and unlimited compassion treating both staff and clients like his own family.

But Walt’s favorite job was being a pop-pop to his grandchildren, Jessica Lynn (married to AJ Kafka) and Christopher Thomas Steel (married to Amber (Sherinsky)) (born to Kim and Thomas Steel), and Tessa Marie and Madison Teresa McCall (born to Denise and Timothy McCall), and his two great-grandsons, Grayson Steel and Quad Kafka. He would often take his grandchildren apple and cherry picking, shopping at the local flea markets, to his favorite shooting range, up to his property on the mountains, or they would simply pile into his van and see where the day took them.

He made sure to never miss a life event, no matter how big or small, and would often be found being the camera capturing the moment.

Walt never met strangers, only future friends, and always appreciated a firm handshake. He had a strong love for jazz music, whistling bird calls, and preached about the importance of walking slow, drinking water and taking vitamins. He loved to ride his bike through Gunpowder Falls State Park and obtained his own private pilot’s license in the 70s. He would always be laughing or poking fun at those around him, whether it was pinching their sides or wiping his dirty fork on their arm. If you ever told him about something you enjoyed, you could almost always guarantee getting a gift or book on that topic the next time you saw him.

Undeniably, Walt’s greatest legacy is the love he freely gave to those around him.

He will be greatly missed by everyone who had the honor of knowing him.

A celebration of Walt’s life will be held in 2021 when it’s safe to gather in groups. In lieu of flowers (and because he thought they were silly), the family of Walt kindly asks for donations to be made to the Wounded Warrior Project.

Semper Ubi Sub Ubi