Walter Victor Lay Jr.

Obituary Walter Lay was the first born to the union of Walter Victor Lay Sr. and Ethel Louise Little on March 13,1947 in St. Louis, Missouri. Walter departed this life on Wednesday, October 9, 2024. His mother; father; stepmother, Katherine; son, Michael; and sisters, Crystal and Kimberly, all preceded him in death. Walter grew up in the Carr Square Village neighborhood. He attended Washington Elementary Grade school. The family moved to several different locations, eventually settling at 760 Euclid in the Central West End, where he attended Sumner High School. He graduated from Sumner in 1965. While attending Sumner, he participated in track and field. He participated in the 100 and 200 relays. After high school, Walter attended Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri. His one regret in life was that he did not finish his college education.

Walter Lay professed a belief in his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as a teenager at the Central Baptist Church in St. Louis, Missouri. Walter loved taking pictures of his family and friends, so his father suggested to him to make a career out of it. Walter started out just taking scenic pictures. He would practice taking pictures of his family. And when he became great at it, he went into business for himself as “Lay & Sons Photography”. He took pictures of different landscapes, weddings, anniversaries, family reunions, and birthday parties. He also took pictures for all the special church events while being a member of Mt. Zion Missionary Church in Richmond Heights. The picture that you see on the church fan was taken by Walter. We have plenty of family photos and home videos that he took, but sadly there are not many of them that he was in. He was always behind the camera, never in front of it. Walter worked at Wohl Shoe Company in Clayton, Missouri. He was employed there for 29 years in the Accounts Payable department. While working for Wohl Shoe Company, he met the love of his life Rita Brame. Wohl offered early retirement, which Walter took them up on.
After being home for a year, he decided that retirement was not for him, so he went back to work for Graphic Packing as a box cutter in Pacific Missouri. He worked there for five years until his memory started failing him.

Walter and Rita were married at the First Baptist Church of Webster Groves, on November 15, 1975, by Paster Neil J. Haynes. To this union, two children were born. They loved going camping, taking long drives, throwing the frisbee, especially in Forest Park, taking long walks and bicycle riding. One day he decided that we would ride the bikes from our home on Ennis Ave in Rock Hill all the way to Forest Park. That one time was enough for the both of them. When Walter and Rita traveled as they got older,

Walter always made sure that their dog, Rein, was with them. Rein was Walter’s buddy.

Walter attended Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Richmond Heights, Missouri with his wife and sons. Walter became a deacon in 1985 under Oliver K. Patterson. In 2005, Walter reunited his
membership back at First Baptist Church of Webster Groves. Walter was ordained as a Deacon in 2006 under Paster Wendell Bonner. He faithfully served God and his church until his health failed him.

Walter leaves to mourn his wife, Rita, of 48 years; son, Philip (Jesslyn) Walter Victor III; daughter, Star Amun; grandchildren, Walker, Tatum, Giabella and London; sister, Carolyn (Robert) Brown; brother- in-law, Robert Hollins; a sister-in-law, Delores Hollins, Marcel Johnson, and Kenny Gordon, Jr. (people special to him); along with a host of nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.

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