Walter H. Morse ’42

Walter “Monk” Morse died June 7, 2010, at home in Amherst, Va.

Monk prepped at the Hackley School. At Princeton he majored in SPIA and joined Elm Club.  

An interest in aviation led Walter to Naval Flight Training in New Orleans, where, on Nov. 13, 1943, he was severely injured in an accident caused by another cadet and spent seven and a half months in the hospital. His physical condition did not allow further flying, but he was assigned to a series of administrative jobs associated with aviation. He remained in the Navy Air Reserve after the war, eventually retiring as a captain.

Monk earned two law degrees — one from the University of Virginia and the other from George Washington University. He became general counsel of the Defense Communications Agency and later general counsel of the Selective Service System. He received the Exceptional Service Award from the former and the Distinguished Service Award from the latter.

Monk was devoted to his country, church, and community. He was a passionate advocate for education and served on school boards in Falls Church and Amherst County, Va.  

He and his wife, Elvira, had four daughters, Harriet Rieman, Meredith Pearce, and Kinsley ’74 and Alice Morse. To them and

to his six grandchildren, the class sends its sympathy.