Walter F. Lineberger III

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    Walter F. Lineberger III, “Walt,” 79, went to his Heavenly home on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022, with his family at his side.
    Walt and his wife, Mary Lou, had moved to Durango,Colo., in the spring of 2021, to live on a ranch with their niece, nephew and family, Jessie and Edward Kileen.     
    Walt was born in Akron, Ohio, and graduated from Yale University. He also attended Amos Tuck Business School at Dartmouth University, which he interrupted to join the Navy.
    He served two tours in Vietnam as the Executive Officer in The Mobile Riverine Force, which suffered 80 percent casualities in a year’s tour. He received numerous decorations including a Purple Heart Medal, Vietnamese Cross of Galantry with Bronze Star, and three Presidential Citations and a citation from the Commander-In-Chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet.
    The highlight of his business career was a nationwide annuity brokerage company, which he started and ran with his wife, Mary Lou. During the course of his business career, he wrote four books, One of them was entitled The AnnuityMaster,” and Walt was thereafter known in the industry by that name.
    After selling the company in 2000, Walt retired.  He loved the out of doors and spent many happy times bird hunting and fly fishing.
    He was very active in his life long interest of civil war history and collecting artifacts and weaponry. He served as Commander of the Beaufort, S.C., chapter of the Sons of Confederate Veteran, honoring his many ancestors who served in the Confederacy.  
    He accepted the Lord Jesus Christ and was baptized on Jan. 25, 2009, by his dear friend, Pastor Scott Smith at The Christ Center in Columbia, S.C. He was a Gideon and was honored by being a Deacon of First Baptist Church of Murphy.
    He is survived by his loving wife, Mary Lou; his niece, nephew and great-nephews, Jessie, Ed, Perrin, Carter and William Kileen; his brother, Peter Lineberger and family; and dear friends.  
    Walt’s funeral service and burial will be in Chattanooga, Tenn., where he and Mary Lou began their marriage and have many happy memories with friends until their move to Colorado. The funeral service will be at noon on Friday, Nov. 4, at The Lane Family Family Funeral Home, 601 Ashland Terrace, Chattanooga, and burial thereafter at 1 p.m. at the Chattanooga Military Cemetery.    
    Walt loved the Lord, his family and his country. He will be dearly missed.