Walter Dunmore Needham

February 1,1938 – December 20, 2018

Walter Dunmore Needham II (Walt), beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend, passed away on December 20. He was born on February 1, 1938 to his late parents, John Dunmore Needham and Florence Eileen Needham. Walter grew up with his 3 siblings in the Salvation Army living in Baltimore MD, Tampa, FL, Charlotte NC, and Atlanta GA. He served in the U.S. Army as an Engineer, from 1960 retiring in 1983, and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, a Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and a Master’s Degree in Business from Boston University. In 1959, he married the love of his life, Frances (Williams) Needham, to whom he was married for 59 years.

Walter chose to pursue a career in Engineering in the U.S. Army after graduating from GA Tech. For 22 years in Virginia, Korea, Liberia, Vietnam, Germany, New Mexico, Japan, and Georgia, Lieutenant Colonel Walter and Frances Needham served our country faithfully. After retiring from the U.S. Army, Walter worked as the principle Engineer for the building and construction of Gwinnett Medical Center. He then worked as the Facility manager for The Westminster Schools in Atlanta GA, building and updating many of the buildings and structures on the campus. Finally, Walter worked as the Director of Capital Program Management Division for Gwinnett Department of Transportation, in charge of many of the road expansion projects like Sugarloaf Parkway and Ronald Reagan Parkway as well as restoring the old courthouse building in historic Lawrenceville square and many buildings throughout the county. He was a dedicated member of Victory World Church, serving 15 years in the VicKids childcare program with the 12 to 18 month old babies; he was Pawpaw to so many children including his own grandchildren. He served on the board of advisors for Hope Christian International Ministries a mission that was near and dear to his heart, first having been to Liberia as a young lieutenant in the U.S Army. He went to Mary’s Village in Liberia numerous times; aiding where it was needed, teaching the children about Jesus, providing whatever support was needed. As John Yeedia of Hope Christian International Ministries said, “we love you Walter, but Jesus loves you more”. Well done thou good and faithful servant.


Walter is survived by his wife of 59 years, Frances Evelyn Williams Needham, his two children, John Edward Dunmore Needham II (Eddie) of Orlando, Florida and David Gordon Needham of Stone Mountain, Georgia; his eight grandchildren, Jonathan David Needham, Joy Ann Sharp (Needham), Jennifer Leilani Slack (Needham), Jessica Michelle Needham, Julia Nicole Needham, Alexis Margo Needham, Chloe Olivia Anne Needham, Gracie Elaine Needham; his brothers Philip Dennis Needham, John Thomas Needham; his sister Miriam Anne Needham.

A Funeral Service in celebration of Walter’s life will be held on Friday, January 4, 2019 at 11:30 am., at Victory World Church, 5905 Brook Hollow Pkwy, Norcross, GA 30071. Visitation will be held the evening prior, Thursday January 3rd, from 6:00 – 8:00 pm at A.S Turner and Sons Funeral, 2773 N. Decatur Rd, Decatur, GA 30033, as well as at 10:30 am on January 4th, one hour prior to the Funeral Service at Victory World Church. Following the service, Walter will be laid to rest at Georgia National Cemetery, 1080 Veterans Cemetery Rd, Canton, GA 30114, with full military honors. In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer that donations be made in his memory to Victory World Church, marked for “Hope Christian International Ministries."