Walter Edward O’Brien passed away at his home on Riverview Drive, Muscle Shoals, Alabama February 28 due to a recurrence of esophageal cancer. Walt was sixty-eight. Walt was a lifelong resident of the Shoals area, born in Sheffield and growing up in Florence. He was the fifth child of Evelyn Bowe O’Brien and Dr. Donald J O’Brien.
Walt attended Coffee High School for two years, and then was a graduate of The Baylor Prep School, Chattanooga, Tenn. He matriculated at the University of Alabama. He was a member of SAE fraternity and graduated in 1979. Walt was an accomplished basketball player on the Baylor School varsity. His athletic skills continued throughout life, water skiing adroitly for decades into his early fifties. Walt enjoyed a variety of subjects. He was a voracious learner, becoming very knowledgeable in competitive sports, race cars, motorcycles, and boats. His friends enjoyed his quick wit and and he made good acquaintances easily.
Walt is survived by his older brother Donald Joseph O’Brien ll, of Little Rock, Arkansas; niece Kimberly O’Brien McKimmon of Mountain Brook Alabama (Hunt, John, Charlie); nephew Donald Joseph O’Brien lll of Greensboro, North Carolina (Meg, Edgar, Weezie); nephew Bowe O’Brien, Nashville Tennessee (Stephanie, Wylder, Jude, Birdie); nephew Donald Grady, of Washington DC; and nephew Martin Grady, Atlanta Georgia (Maggie, Kevin, Elisabeth).
Walt is resting at Morrison Funeral Home, Tuscumbia, Al. He will be in eternal rejoice in the family gravesite next to his Mother Evelyn, his father Dr. Don, his brother John, and his brother Dr. Jim. Father Jonathan Howell, Pastor St Joseph’s Catholic Church is gracing the funeral service at Greenview Memorial Park, 11 am Tuesday March 4. In lieu of flowers, Memorials are welcomed in Walt’s name to St. Joseph Catholic Church, 203 Plum Street, Florence Alabama, 35630.
