Walter Harding Herring, 92, passed away peacefully at his home on Monday, September 25, 2017. He was born on December 27, 1924 in Greene County, son of the late Robert Lee Herring and Rosa Michael Herring.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Lille March Herring and an infant son; five brothers, Meredith, George, Edward, Robert and Howard “Harold” Herring; four sisters, Beulah Hough, Christine Morris, Margaret Easton and Dorothy Deane; and son-in-law, Clark Roberts.
He is survived by his cherished daughters, Shelva Jean Fisher and her husband, Larry of Earlysville, VA and Joyce Marie Roberts of Front Royal, VA; eight grandchildren, Tammy Shiflett and her husband, Kenny, Crystal Smith and her husband, Brian, Linda Taylor and her husband, Chris, Vernell Roberts, Sharon Deavers, Clark Roberts, Kevin Roberts and Kelly Roberts; eleven great grandchildren, Matthew and Katie Shiflett, Connor and Gavin Smith, Maddie and Ali Taylor, Walter Rascon, Joyce Rascon Roberts, Ricky Rascon, Jr., Taylor Roberts and Zachary Roberts; and nine great-great grandchildren; one sister, Irene Wood and her husband, Curtis of Free Union; one brother, Claude Herring and his wife, Dorothy of Ruckersville.
Walter lived a very simple life. Born and raised through the Depression and Wars he learned the value of a hard day’s work and to enjoy the simpler things in life. At a very young age he had to quit school to help work the family farm. As an adult, he worked as a truck driver for the University of Virginia Building and Grounds picking up supplies and carrying them to job sites until his retirement. He was then the caregiver for his wife, Lille until her death in 1994. He loved planting gardens and flower beds in the Spring and Summer and when the cold weather came he was off to Southern States to purchase bird seed and corn for his birds, squirrels and deer. Even at the age of 92 he proudly purchased a John Deere tractor and mowed his grass every day! At the end of his work day he would sit on the deck, drink a bottle of water and smoke his cigar while watching the wildlife play in the fields. His greatest accomplishment in his life was his family that he cherished. He enjoyed hearing the laughter of his grandchildren and great grandchildren being around him.
The family would like to thank the excellent nursing staff at Martha Jefferson Hospital for providing warmth and care to our loved one when he needed it the most.
The family will receive friends on Thursday, September 28, 2017 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Ryan Funeral Home, 12819 Spotswood Trail, Ruckersville, VA 22968.
A funeral service will be held on Friday, September 29, 2017 at 11 a.m. at Ryan Funeral Home.
An interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery.
An online guestbook is available at www.ryanfuneral.com
Ryan Funeral Home of Ruckersville, VA is handling the arrangements.