Fowlerville News and Views Online

Walter Bradley House

(9/11/1924-5/14/2019)

    Walter Bradley House was born on the family farm, 459 Kane Rd, Webberville, MI to Rex & Florence (McIntyre) House, where he continued to reside for most of his adult life.  He attended the Havens one-room school at the corner of Kane and Columbia Roads with his 5 sisters, Marianna, Elda, Marge, Carol & Joan until 8th grade.  At Fowlerville High School, Walter served as senior class vice president, was a member of the Future Farmers of America, and after a full recovery from rheumatic fever was able to play on the varsity baseball team his senior year.
    In June of 1943, Walter enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps, 90th Bomb Group, 321st Bomb Squadron, serving as a radioman on 44 missions over New Guinea and Mindoro Island in the Philippines.  Upon coming home after the war, he met his wife of 67 years at a Lake Lansing dance and on August 21, 1948, he married Meredith June McComb at her family home in Webberville MI.  Together they raised 4 daughters on the family farm, centennialized in 2000.  Soon thereafter, they sold the homestead portion of the farm and built Meredith’s dream home on the remaining half, where they resided until her death in 2015.
     During the early years, Walter briefly drove a milk truck, trapped muskrats and sold their furs, while running a 30-cow dairy operation in order to achieve ownership of the family farm.  He also purchased adjacent acreage during this time from his elderly German farm neighbor, allowing Vern Wilhelm lifetime habitation rights to the home.  
    A serious bout of pleurisy in the mid-60’s then made it inadvisable for Walter to continue the dairy business; the cows and most of the farm machinery were sold at auction and in 1965, Walter began his new career as a foreman for the Livingston County Road Commission, from which he retired in 1985.  In addition, Walter earned his real estate license and sold parcels of land to help finance college educations and weddings for his 4 daughters.
    In the early years, Walter and Meredith were active members of the Livingston County Farm Bureau, enjoyed dining out on Friday nights with friends and dancing with their Colonial Square Dance Club.  As children began to “fly the coop”, they started traveling, their journeys taking them throughout the continental US, Hawaii, Spain, Morocco, and Canada.  Playing euchre with their empty-nester friends was also a favorite pastime.  Walter also enjoyed bowling and morning coffee-klatches with his country comrades.  Throughout his life he was a fisherman and an avid hunter of rabbits, pheasants, grouse, and especially deer and spent many happy times at the ramshackle family deer camp in Seney MI.
     While he claimed no official membership in Trinity Methodist Church, he was a life-long supporter, periodically
lending his grounds-keeping and carpentry skills.  In his retirement years, he developed a love of woodworking; his church, Meredith, children, grandchildren as well as many friends and other relatives have all been the lucky recipients of his beautifully crafted handiwork. 
    Walter was the last surviving member of his biological generation.  Surviving to cherish his memory are 4 daughters:  Pamela A. (Lucius) Greve of Bay City MI; Mona J. (Thomas) Jacobs of Alto MI; Donna K. House of Needles CA; & Sandra L. House of East Lansing MI.  Also surviving are 6 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren: Ashley (Greve) & Bill Zielinski (GGChild: Joslyn); Hilary (Greve) & John Busch (GGChildren: Drue, Stella; John); Amanda (Jacobs) Prats-Reyes; Benjamin and Stefanie Boros (GGChildren: Dexter, Clark); Kylee (House) and Franjo Kneefel (GGChildren: Bradley, Wesley); Thane House and Sayaka Saito (GGChildren: Anaya, Amelia).  Several nieces and nephews also survive.
     The family would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to the staff at Brookdale Assisted Living of Hartland for their 4 years of kind and dedicated care of Walter.  Special thanks also to Medilodge of Okemos and Covenant Greater Lansing Hospice. 
    An 11am funeral service was held this past Saturday, May 18, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 8201 Iosco Rd, Fowlerville MI, with visitation at the church one hour preceding.  Internment to Greenwood Cemetery in Fowlerville followed the service.
     In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to Trinity United Methodist Church of Fowlerville. Arrangements by Herrmann Funeral Home.  Online condolences may be expressed at pjherrmannfuneralhome.com